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India, South Korea shore up strategic ties Details on page 6

Rajnath reviews security ahead of Obama visit

VOL 20, No. 1059

January 2, 2015

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Periodical Postage

INDO-U.S. TIES BACK ON TRACK

WASHINGTON: Indo-US relations were back on track in 2014 after overcoming major hiccups and bilateral ties are set for a big boost with President Barack Obama slated to make a historic second visit to India next month. As the year 2014 comes to an end, the strains in IndiaUS relationship have almost disappeared. Exactly a year ago, the arrest of Indian diplomat Devyani

Khobragade in New York had threatened to derail the ties along with the anti-India campaign launched by the influential US corporate sector. The relationship - for which successive governments in the two countries had worked hard for over a decade had come to a standstill in the first half of the year. Details on page 5

Details on page 25

Mahendra Singh Dhoni

Dhoni quits Tests, Kohli to lead in Sydney Details on page 14

Pak tolerance against terrorism questionable: US Details on page 8

Indian youth's company top seller in US Details on page 24

Bangalore US firms attracting terrorists Details on page 6

Punjab to set up NRI cell in every district

CONTENTS Bollywood ---------------------- 28-29 Classifieds ------------------------- 48

Details on page 6

Community Post -------------- 16-23 Date Book -------------------------- 47

INDIA POST SURVEY

Edit Page --------------------------- 54 HealthScience Post --------- 32-35

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Horoscope ------------------------- 49

This week’s question

Immigration Post ------------- 44-46

Will Pakistan ever convict the Mumbai terror masterminds?

Life Style ----------------------- 50-52 Philosophy ------------------------- 53

Last week’s result

Will BJP make an impact on lives of Kashmiris? YES 73%

NO 27%

ARREST, RELEASE, ARREST: Pakistani police officers escort Zaki-ur-Rahman Lakhvi, center, the main suspect in the Mumbai terror attacks of 2008, after his court appearance in Islamabad, Pakistan, on December 30.. (Details on page 8)

Certified by “CIRCULATION VERIFICATION COUNCIL Readership 117,765”

Publisher’s Diary ------------------ 4 Real Estate -------------------- 30-31 TechBiz Post ------------------- 24-27 Travel & Hospitality Post ---- 40-43

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t's 2015. It's that kind of a number, which 50 years ago people would have used as euphemism for a far off future. So here it is upon us and while we are still far from commuting to work in those saucer-like flying cars, we are grounded close to some real worldly issues like hunger, poverty, war, and discrimination of all kinds possible. Nevertheless - let's not dampen our holiday cheer, at least for another week - coming up soon is what we overseas Indians generally look forward to around every New Year - the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, India's annual event to connect with the Diaspora. This year, beginning January 7, the NRI and PIO jamboree will be held at Gandhinagar in Gujarat, and for all those who may be making the trip, this year's highlight will be initiatives like 'Make in India', 'Clean Ganga' and the various economic reforms that the new Modi government is executing to woo investors. This 13th edition of the three-day event also marks the centenary of Mahatma Gandhi's return from South Africa. Folks, I was in India recently and witnessed firsthand - as many of you might have - the rapid pace of infrastructure building that is changing the skylines of practically all major cities and towns in India. Although I would have to say that in terms of civic consciousness, public discipline, cleanliness and social responsibility, Indians in India are pretty far from changing their attitudes, there is a palpable buzz and a frenetic momentum among them for a better and more prosperous future. Quite literally, it's a very different face that you see of India on the streets of its cities now - because of the tens of thousands of hitherto invisible populations that have risen in their financial status to assert their presence. I think the Modi government is going all out to 'make easy' to grab the immense opportunities and possibilities that are there for anyone who wants to 'make it' in India. I too hope to be a part of that excitement. The day of realizing the 'Indian Dream' is definitely not another 50 years away. It's here now. Cheers for the New Year!

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HIGHLIGHTS Bollywood: Hand in hand Alleged love-birds Anushka and boyfriend Virat Kohli were seen walking hand in hand in Melbourne

Cover Story: Back on track Indo-US relations were back on track in 2014 after overcoming major hiccups and ties are set for a boost with Obama visit

Community: Historic deal Gujarati Samaj has presented a check of $250,000 to the Hindu Temple of St. Louis to begin construction of a new building

Impounding cars Court approves an LA policy making it easier for unlicensed drivers to keep their cars instead of having them impounded

Life style: Literary scene The literary scene in 2014 was vibrant going by what Indians read and wrote and there were controversies as well

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Indo-US ties back on track WASHINGTON: Indo-US relations were back on track in 2014 after overcoming major hiccups and bilateral ties are set for a big boost with President Barack Obama slated to make a historic second visit to India next month. As the year 2014 comes to an end, the strains in India-US relationship have almost disappeared. Exactly a year ago, the arrest of Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade in New York had threatened to derail the ties along with the anti-India campaign launched by the influential US corporate sector. The relationship - for which successive governments in the two countries had worked hard for over a decade - had come to a standstill in the first half of the year. In fact, months leading to the May general elections also played a part as the Obama Administration thought it was better to wait and deal with the new leadership. The outgoing government headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was reluctant in taking any decision on even important issues related to bilateral ties.

with the new government. Meetings with Modi by top officials of the Obama Adminis-

The internal domestic politics and the sharp Republican-Democratic divide on key foreign policy

new jobs were added to the US economy and the unemployment rate dropped to a six-year low of

File photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Expanded meeting with the US President Barack Obama, at the White House, in Washington DC on September 30

tration reflected that the Prime Minister was focused on India's development and taking Indo-US ties to a new level as he considers it as a win-win for both the countries. Gauging that the Prime Minister was personally leading efforts to normalize Indo-US ties, Obama

In the first 100 days of the new Indian government, Obama sent three of his top Cabinet Ministers - John Kerry (Secretary of State), Chuck Hagel (Defense Secretary) and Penny Pritzker (Commerce Secretary) - to India The first five months of the year could be characterized as stalemate in bilateral ties but collaboration moved at a fast pace ever since Narendra Modi was sworn in as the Prime Minister on May 26. Even before the swearing-in took place, Obama telephoned Modi to congratulate him on unprecedented electoral victory. While the White House statement of this maiden tele-conversation did not say much, the subsequent events reflected that it set the tone and pace for the IndiaUS relationship. In the first 100 days of the new Indian government, Obama sent three of his top Cabinet Ministers - John Kerry (Secretary of State), Chuck Hagel (Defense Secretary) and Penny Pritzker (Commerce Secretary) - to India. The annual India-US Strategic Dialogue was held in New Delhi instead of Washington as a goodwill gesture for the new government. The mood about India in Washington suddenly changed

meeting was reflective of the new mood in the bilateral ties. The two sides agreed to take

invited Modi to the White House immediately after the UN General Assembly session in New York. The maiden meeting between the two leaders at the White House on September 30 helped establish a personal relationship between Obama and Modi - the two most popular political leaders on the social media. Welcoming Modi at the White House, Obama greeted him in Gujarati - Kem Chho - with help from his Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Nisha Desai Biswal, who is of Gujarati-origin. The next day, in a rare gesture, Obama changed his schedule to drive down with Modi to the memorial of Matrin Luther King. The two drove to the memorial in the Beast - the official limousine of the US President. It was also for the first time that a US President and an Indian Prime Minister wrote a joint op-ed and pledged to move together "Chalein Saath Saath". The joint statement that was issued after the Modi-Obama

their counter-terrorism co-operation to a new level. It opened up new vistas for the relationship particularly in the field of space, climate change and urban infrastructure. As officials from the two countries were busy doing follow ups by scheduling more than a dozen meetings in November and December, Modi used his twitter handle to announce that he had invited Obama to be the Chief Guest at the annual Republic Day Parade on January 26. The invitation was accepted by the White House. Obama is all set to visit India in January. This would be for the first time that a US President would attending the Republic day parade as the Chief Guest. Obama would also be the first serving US President to visit India twice. While officials of the two countries are tight lipped about the trip, it is certain that it would be a memorable visit - bringing India

issues are unlikely to have an impact on US-India policy. Obama's Democratic Party received a drubbing at the hands of the Republican Party in the November Congressional elections. In the new 114th Congress that convenes in January 2015, the Republican Party would have control over both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The bipartisan nature of support to India-US relationship is evident from the fact that the top Republican leadership have supported Obama's India trip in January. Soon on his arrival from India, the US President would deliver his State of the Union Address in his joint address to the Congress. However, the domestic front is not going to be a smooth affair for Obama, given the Republican majority in the Congress. Obama is expected to face bumps on the road on a host of issues including immigration, health care, economic reforms, and

This would be for the first time that a US President would attending the Republic day parade as the Chief Guest. Obama would also be the first serving US President to visit India twice and the US closer than ever. It is slated to be a relationship driven by people-to-people and business with the governments playing the role of a catalyst. At the regional and global level, the two countries would be seen working together on a host of issues as the national interest of both India and US converge much more than ever in the past.

getting Congressional confirmation of presidential nominations. To the credit of Obama's policies in the last six years, the American economy is back on track. The US economy grew at a record five percent in the third quarter. As a result of which the Dow crosses the 18,000 mark for the first time ever. In November alone 3,12,000

5.8 per cent. Experts say the US economy is likely to continue to grow next year. The American economy is now much less dependent on exports than are countries like Germany, China and Japan. To top it all, are the steps taken by the Obama Administration in the energy sector. American import of crude oil has dropped nearly 20 per cent in the last four years and is expected to decrease in the coming years. US oil production has jumped from five million barrel a day in 2004 to nearly nine million barrel a day in 2014. While American economy is successfully back on track from the worst ever depression in a century, a series of incidents like the Ferguson shooting this year has brought back race into US domestic politics. A latest poll conducted by Washington Post-ABC News only 1 in 10 African Americans says blacks and other minorities receive equal treatment with whites in the criminal justice system, roughly half of all white Americans say the races are treated equally in the justice system and 6 in 10 have confidence that police treat both equally. Another poll by NBC News revealed that race relations in the US today are at the worst in 10 years. Obama himself has tried to address the issue and in media interactions has argued that racial tension is not increasing. "No, I actually think that it's probably in its day-to-day interactions less racially divided," Obama told the NPR in an interview.-PTI

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India, South Korea shore up strategic ties SEOUL: In a boost to their strategic ties, India and South Korea have decided to enhance cooperation in sectors like shipbuilding, electronics, defense production, infrastructure and energy

ter Sushma Swaraj and her South Korean counterpart Yun Byungse deliberated on all aspects of the bilateral ties with a view to "chart out a road map" to further deepen engagement.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj with Republic of Koreas Defence Minister Gen. Han Min-gu in Seoul on December 30

besides outlining mutual interest in areas of nuclear energy and cyber security. In the eighth Joint Commission Meeting, External Affairs Minis-

"They agreed that development of cooperation in the field of defense equipment and technology, as well as, sectors like shipbuilding, electronics, IT, energy

and infrastructure held considerable possibilities "They reiterated mutual interest in deepening cooperation in the areas of civil nuclear energy and cyber security," the Ministry of External Affairs said. In her address, Swaraj called South Korea an important partner for India's economic growth and invited South Korean companies to make "bold investments" and benefit from the 'Make in India' initiative of the government. She said South Korea and South Korean companies occupy a strategic place in India's 'Act East' initiative and that there was huge scope for greater investment in the country, particularly in the manufacturing sector. "We invite Korean companies to build on their success in India and make bold investments to benefit from my government's focus on 'Make in India' which is aimed at providing necessary policy and other incentives to encourage manufacturing in India," she said. Yun welcomed the initiatives taken by India and agreed to encourage the South Korean industry to engage with India even "more closely". In the meeting, there was agreement on the considerable potential for further expanding bilateral economic and investment cooperation. The South Korean side reiterated a cordial invitation for an early official visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the country. Swaraj welcomed the invitation

US firms' presence attracting terrorists to Bangalore NEW DELHI: The presence of top American companies like Microsoft, Cisco and McKinsey in Bangalore seem to be motivating terror groups to repeatedly target the IT city as it gives them instant publicity globally and acts to thwart foreign investment there. "Bangalore is closer to the US than any other city in India. There are many American companies in Bangalore while many others outsource their work to companies based in Bangalore," a senior Home Ministry official said, explaining repeated terror attacks in the city over the years. Sixteen people were injured in a bomb explosion near BJP office in the city on April 17, 2013. Two bombs had exploded in heavily-packed Chinnaswamy

Stadium in Bangalore on April 17, 2010 injuring 15 people. A third bomb was found and defused outside the stadium. On December 28, 2005, a pro-

fessor of IIT Delhi was killed and four persons injured when two terrorists attacked the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore. "Any terror strike brings glo-

bal publicity, particularly in Bangalore. It also acts as a deterrent for prospective investors to stay away from the city," said the official. Besides, top leaderships of Indian Mujahideen belong to Karnataka's coastal town Bhatkal and security agencies suspect that several SIMI operatives are active in the state. "SIMI members who had fled from a jail in Madhya Pradesh's Khandwa was last spotted at Hospet or Hosapete in Karnataka's Bellary district in September," the official said.-PTI

adding that both sides will work closely to ensure a productive and successful visit of Modi at a mutually convenient early date. The two ministers exchanged views on global and regional developments and agreed to stepup exchanges between officials and academics of the two sides. Swaraj also called on South Korean President Park Geun-hye and held meetings with the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy and the National Security Advisor.

have employed nearly 40,000 people in India. The current bilateral annual trade between the two countries is about USD 16 billion. Indian companies have invested around USD 2 billion in South Korea and some of the leading names who acquired South Korean companies are Tatas, Mahindra and Aditya Birla Group. "We would like to see a new form of connectivity between our two countries through cross-border production networks," the

In her address, Swaraj called South Korea an important partner for India's economic growth and invited South Korean companies to make "bold investments" and benefit from the 'Make in India' initiative of the government In her address, Swaraj sought steps to boost trade ties to realize the target of USD 40 billion bilateral annual trade by next year and said South Korean companies like Hyundai, Samsung and LG have become household names in India. "My government attaches importance to relations with Republic of Korea. We see you as an important partner for our economic growth. Korea and Korean companies occupy a strategic place in India's 'Act East' initiative," she said. Currently 300 South Korean companies have invested approximately USD 3 billion and

External Affairs Minister said. "We need to work together to realize the fuller potential of bilateral trade. We had set a target of USD 40 billion by 2015. To achieve this target, our companies need to take full advantage of our economic complementarities and leverage the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement," she said. India-South Korea Joint Commission for bilateral cooperation was established in February 1996, which is chaired by the External Affairs Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs from the South Korean side. -PTI

Punjab to set up NRI cell in every district MOGA: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has said the government would set up separate NRI cells in every district across the state to facilitate non-resident Indians in getting their administrative works done smoothly. Addressing a gathering of NRIs of Punjab origin, the Chief Minister said the deputy commissioners of every district would be asked to provide a separate room for NRI cell in the respective District Administrative Complexes (DACs) so that the NRIs are able to get their work done in a hasslefree manner. The cells must be provided with adequate infrastructure, Badal said adding that the formal orders regarding setting-up of these cells would be issued soon. The Chief Minister further

asked the Home Secretary of the state to review the list of NRIs Proclaimed Offenders so that no injustice was done to them, who were not involved in any crime. He asked the officers to come up with a foolproof mechanism for segregating NRIs against whom no major crime was proved. Batting for amicable resolution of disputes of the NRIs, the chief minister said that NRI police stations could play a pivotal role in it. Rather than registering cases in such matters, the NRI police stations must try to resolve these issues with mutual understanding, he said. Badal also said a fivemember committee comprising NRIs would also be set up in every NRI police station so that such matters could be solved with mutual consent.-PTI

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Pak tolerance against terrorism questionable: US WASHINGTON: Pakistan's zero tolerance policy against terrorism is questionable given its reluctance to take action against Lashkar-e-Taiba and the perpetrators of the Mumbai terrorist attack, a US expert has said. "How will Pakistan implement its new zero tolerance policy for

of the terrorist attack at a school in Peshawar. The action plan includes zero tolerance for militancy in Punjab, which is the hub of LeT. Three weeks before the mass execution of school children, Hafiz Saeed, the head of the Lashkar - rebranded as the Jamaat

"No less than seven judges have sat on the hot seat during unhurried judicial proceedings against Lakhvi. Taking on the TTP is now job one; if there is a game plan to deal seriatim with the ISI's deadly offspring, the LeT will be last in line," Krepon said extremism in the Punjab, where the Lashkar maintains its base?" wrote Michael Krepon, cofounder of the Stimson Center, in an op-ed in Arms Control Wonk. Krepon was referring to the open activities of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) leaders in Pakistan, despite Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif declaring a national action plan against terrorism in the aftermath

ud-Duwa - convened a massive public rally in an honored public square commemorating the path to an independent Pakistan, the write-up said. "He rode to the event on a groaning white steed. No government official or security agency dared impede this rally," Krepon said. "Hafiz's relative, Zaki-ur-

Rehman Lakhvi, collared as the mastermind behind the 2008 Mumbai massacre, was granted bail from gentle custody only one day after the Peshawar slaughter, along with another declaration by Nawaz of Pakistan's enduring enmity against extremist violence," he said. He said the state immediately acted to extend custody after this embarrassing juxtaposition, but Pakistan's judiciary is just not able to deal with those who carry out mass-casualty attacks against India. "No less than seven judges have sat on the hot seat during unhurried judicial proceedings against Lakhvi. Taking on the TTP is now job one; if there is a game plan to deal seriatim with the ISI's deadly offspring, the LeT will be last in line," Krepon said. "For now, Pakistan is the recipient of the world's condolences. If the LeT carries out another mass slaughter in India, triggering a nuclear-tinged crisis, condolences will be replaced by condemnation," he said. -PTI

Rajnath reviews security ahead of Obama visit NEW DELHI: Ahead of US President Barack Obama's visit, Home Minister Rajnath Singh has been reviewing the overall security environment in the country and its neighborhood with the top brass, including Defense Minister, NSA and Army Chief. The inter-ministerial meeting took stock of the prevailing security situation in the country ahead of Obama's visit to India to attend the Republic Day parade as chief guest. "We discussed the country's security situation," Army Chief Dalbir Singh Suhag told reporters without elaborating. Those who attended the meeting included Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh, the Army Chief and chiefs of intelligence agencies. Official sources said the meeting reviewed the situation in India's neighborhood, the recent violence in Assam perpetrated by NDFB and the blast outside a restaurant in Bangalore. India has already approached Bhutan and Myanmar to flush out Indian insurgent groups taking shelter in their territories.

Steps being taken for security during the Republic Day are also believed to have been discussed threadbare, sources said. Activities of Pakistan-based militant groups and their attempts to carry out terror attacks in hin-

cerned over the activities of five SIMI cadres, who escaped from a jail in Madhya Pradesh's Khandwa and were suspected to be involved in the Bengaluru blasts. The meeting stressed the need for bringing peace in the Northeast where killing of more than 70 Adivasis by Bodo rebel group NDFB (S) too had exposed the fragile peace in the region. Army has already deployed 66 army columns (70 personnel Home Minister Rajnath Singh in each column) in terland were also discussed in the Assam for counter insurgency nearly two-hour long meeting. operations. The Home Minister asked inThe sources said the Home telligence chiefs to ensure that Minister asked the Army Chief to there should not be any gap in ensure that peace returns to the intelligence gathering mechanism violence-hit areas and there is no and all inputs must be analyzed flare up. Singh told Suhag that carefully and shared with all con- army presence should be incerned agencies with utmost seri- creased in Assam, Arunachal ousness. Pradesh and Meghalaya, where Security establishments are con- NDFB militants are active.-PTI

Lakhvi arrested again before release from jail ISLAMABAD: Mumbai attack mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi was arrested just before his release following a Pakistani court's suspension of his detention under a public security order which had evoked a strong reaction from India. "Lakhvi has been arrested in another case," an interior ministry spokesman told PTI. However, he said the details of the case would be provided to the media later.

India had conveyed its "strong concern" to Pakistan over the development, saying, "There seems to be no end in sight to Pakistan remaining a safe-haven for wellknown terror groups." Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh summoned Pakistan High Commissioner Basit in New Delhi and the Indian mission in Islamabad took up the issue with the Pakistan Foreign Office. Following this development, Lakhvi's counsel Abbasi said, "The executive authority does not seem to accept the court's order. Arresting my client in another case is like undermining the court's order." Islamabad High Court Judge Noorul Haq N Qureshi, while accepting Lakhvi's application challenging his detention under the MPO, had suspended the government's order in this regard and diZakiur Rehman Lakhvi rected him to submit a surety bond of Rs Anti-Terrorism Court Judge in 1 million. The court Islamabad Syed Kausar also asked Lakhvi to ensure his presence Abbas Zaidi had on Decemin every hearing of ber 18 granted bail to Lakhvi the Mumbai attacks in the Mumbai attacks case case. T h e citing lack of evidence government's law against him, but before he officer was not could be released from jail, present when the the government detained him court gave its ruling. While suspendfor three more months ing Lakhvi's detention order, the court Lakhvi was set to be freed from directed the Pakistan government the Adaila Jail in Rawalpindi on to file a reply in this regard in the the order of the Islamabad High next hearing in the case on JanuCourt after he submitted Rs 1 mil- ary 15. lion surety bond, but just before Anti-Terrorism Court Judge in that the jail superintendent re- Islamabad Syed Kausar Abbas ceived an order from the govern- Zaidi had on December 18 granted ment regarding his arrest in an- bail to Lakhvi in the Mumbai atother case. tacks case citing lack of evidence "Lakhvi was then presented against him, but before he could before a magistrate who remanded be released from jail, the governhim in custody," the official said. ment detained him for three more Lakhvi's counsel Raja Rizwan months under MPO in Adiala Jail Abbasi has protested against the where the trial is being held. government's decision. A senior official of the Interior The Islamabad High Court had Ministry had said earlier the govsuspended the government's ernment might detain Lakhvi in Maintenance of Public Order another case. (MPO) under which Lakhvi was "Since the release of Lakhvi being held under detention, pav- from jail will draw a lot flak from ing the way for his release. This the world especially India, the had outraged India which lodged Pakistani government may detain its strong protest by summoning Lakhvi in any other case like it did Pakistan High Commissioner in the case of LeJ chief Malik Abdul Basit. Ishaq," he had said. -PTI

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Changed Land Acquisition law good for farmers: PM NEW DELHI: Amid a contro"Certain amendments have versy over the government's de- been made in the Act to further cision to make significant amend- strengthen the provisions to proments in the Land Acquisition tect the interests of the 'affected Act, Prime Minister Narendra families'. Modi has said changes in the law "Important aspect of amendwere required to ensure faster pro- ment is to make developmental & cessing without compromising on security related works faster withcompensation or relief and rehabilitation measures for farmers. Hours after the Union Cabinet chaired by him took the decision to take an ordinance route to amend the Prime Minister Narendra Modi legislation enacted during the previous UPA govern- out compromising benefits/comment, Modi said the proposed pensation to farmers," the Prime amendments meet the twin objec- Minister tweeted. tives of farmers' welfare, along He said the present changes with expeditiously meeting stra- will allow a fast track process for tegic and developmental needs of defense and defense production, the country. rural infrastructure including elec-

trification, housing for poor including affordable housing, industrial corridors and infrastructure projects including projects taken up in PPP mode where ownership of the land continues to be vested with the government. "Pro-farmer step: Excluded Acts brought under RFCTLARR Act for Compensation and R&R. "Pro-development: Faster processing without compromising on compensation or R&R measures to farmers," Modi tweeted. The Prime Minister also said "several suggestions" had come up during the Center's interactions with state Revenue Ministers and key implementing Ministries. "States, Ministries and stakeholders had been reporting many difficulties in the implementation of this Act," he said. Government recommended promulgation of an ordinance making significant changes in the Act including removal of consent clause for acquiring land for five areas of industrial corridors, PPP projects, rural infrastructure, affordable housing and defense. -PTI

Indian-American photojournalist Rajan Devadas dies WASHINGTON: Rajan Devadas, one of the most admired Indian-American photojournalists whose lenses chronicled USIndia relations for more than half a century, has died. Devadas, a Padma Shri awardee, died of cardiac arrest at Hebrew Home of Greater Washington on December 26. He is survived by his wife and eight children. He was 93. In a career spanning more than five decades, Devadas has covered US visit of every Indian Prime Minister from Jawaharlal Nehru to Manmohan Singh besides photographing every US president from John F Kennedy to George W Bush. He could not cover Narendra Modi's visit in September. "He was a chronicler par excellence of India-US relations and he had a memory of key events in this chequered relationship that stretched back to the Kennedy Administration when our then Ambassador B K Nehru encouraged him to take up media-related works for the Embassy," former Indian Ambassador to the US Nirupama Rao, said. Devadas had celebrated his

93rd birthday in the suburb of Washington earlier this summer which was attended by some of his close friends and community leaders. In 2002, he was bestowed with

Rajan Devadas

the Padma Shri award, India's one of the highest civilian awards. As he could not travel to New Delhi to receive the award on health grounds, then Indian diplomat Lalit Mansingh presented it to him at a convention of the Federation of Kerala Association in Chicago. Devadas, who was born in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala in

1921, spent much of his childhood in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh and studied at the Banaras Hindu University. After having worked as an administrative assistant at the BHU, Devadas came to the US in 1955 to attend a one year program at the Pendle Hill Quaker Center for Study and Contemplation. Then he moved to New York to attend New School for Social Research, where he took two courses in journalism and public relations that sparked his interest in photography. For several decades, Devadas worked as an official photographer of the Indian Embassy in Washington. "He had met, listened to and spoken with Gandhiji and many others who belonged to India's greatest generation. He knew Madan Mohan Malviya and I spoke with him at length about Malviya when I was to speak to a group of BHU alumni at our Embassy in DC (Washington) in 2013," Rao said. -PTI

Govt compelled to take ordinance route: Naidu NEW DELHI: With Opposition our government had been left parties criticizing the government with no other option but to issue for taking the ordinance route, ordinances given the urgency in Urban Development Minister the matters that I have referred Venkaiah Naidu has said the gov- to." ernment was left with no option Blaming the Congress, he said, and was compelled to do so due to "obstructionist attitude" of the Congress. The Minister also said that two diametrically opposite approaches were playing out in the country. While the government's initiative is 'Making India' Venkaiah Naidu through 'Make in India', the other is of the adversaries to 'Mar "This situation has been created India' by seeking to stall all legis- by the negative and obstructionlative initiatives. ist attitude of the Congress in "Our government has been Parliament." compelled to come out with OrdiReferring to frequent disrupnances on important issues like tions in Rajya Sabha, Naidu said, hiking FDI limit in capital-starved "The way Rajya Sabha was held insurance sector, auctioning of to ransom during Winter session coal blocks and enabling land ac- by Congress was indeed very quisition for infrastructure and unfortunate. The party preferred housing projects," he said. to sabotage legislation on proCongress has slammed the viding much-required relief to the government over the Ordinance insurance sector and taking forto amend Land Acquisition Act ward the process of auction of within a week after end of Parlia- coal blocks which is very critical ment session alleging that the or- to power sector." dinance government approved Justifying the need for Land for changes in Land Acquisition Ordinance, he said, "Several state Act was to "dilute" its benefit to governments including those favor "corporates". ruled by Congress expressed difJD (U) has also demanded its ficulties with the Act passed by immediate withdrawal failing UPA government. They wanted which it threatened a nationwide amendments to the Act so that stir by the Janata Parivar. Government had "Several state governments recommended promulincluding those ruled by gation of an ordinance making significant Congress expressed changes in the Land difficulties with the Acquisition Act including removal of Act passed by UPA consent clause for ac- governmentâ&#x20AC;? quiring land for five areas of industrial corridors, PPP projects, rural infra- difficulties in land acquisition are structure, affordable housing and eased out so infrastructure and defense. other developmental projects can Naidu said, "Legislation be speeded up." through Ordinance is a Consti"I have no hesitation in asserttutionally valid mechanism. Ar- ing that there is a clear conspiracy ticle 123 of our Constitution em- being hatched in the country powers the President of India to against the development agenda issue Ordinances in exceptional of our government," he said. circumstances." "People of our country are fed He said no government will up with hollow political slogans normally resort to issuing Ordi- and desperately want developnances unless and otherwise ment so that their aspirations can compelled to do so. "In our case, be fulfilled.-PTI

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Indian in NY charged with causing injury to son Indian employee NEW YORK: A 28-year-old Indian man has been charged with assaulting his fourmonth-old son and causing life-threatening injuries, including multiple severe skull fractures and brain damage to him and faces 25 years in jail. Jagsheer Singh of Queens was charged with first-degree assault and endangering the welfare of a child. His bail has been set at USD 200,000. Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said that according to the charges, the baby's mother Reena Malhotra left her son with her husband Singh on the night of December 19 before going to work. According to statements made by Singh, the next morning he checked on the baby

and found him covered in feces and took the baby into the shower. After that, Singh admitted that the baby fell off a four-feet high changing table but did not tell his wife about the incident. It is alleged that Singh admitted to observing the baby to be unresponsive and having difficulty breathing. An examination of the baby at a children's medical center later revealed that the baby suffered multiple severe skull fractures, widespread brain injury resulting from lack of oxygen and retinal hemorrhages. It is alleged that in examining the baby, medical personnel concluded that the baby's injuries were inconsistent with Singh's ac-

count of a short fall from the changing table but rather consistent with the non-accidental inflicted trauma of abusive head trauma. Based on the nature and severity of the injuries, the baby's symptoms of unresponsiveness and difficulty breathing would have occurred immediately or very shortly after the infliction of the injuries. The baby's medical condition is presently grave. "Instead of protecting and nurturing this helpless, innocent baby, the defendant is accused of tragically assaulting his son and causing skull fractures and widespread brain injury. The baby is in grave condition and if he does not survive the charges will be upgraded," Brown said. -PTI

of cruise ship drowned

NEW YORK: A 27-year old Indian, who worked on a Caribbean cruise ship, died after falling off the ship and was identified after his body washed up on a beach in the US state of Florida. Cliford Minej of Thane, Mumbai was a worker on Holland America Line cruise ship. His body, dressed in shorts and a t-shirt, drifted ashore near Clearwater Beach in Florida and was spotted by someone walking on the beach, according to a report in Tampa Bay Times. The ship, named Ryndam, came to port in Tampa and police believe Minej fell off the ship. Since the captain of the ship didn't notify authorities of Minej's disappearance, the Coast Guard didn't know if he had gone overboard or disembarked at the cruise terminal. Multiple area law enforcement agencies searched land and sea and the Pinellas County Medical Examiner's Office ruled Minej's death accidental. According to a statement from Holland America Line, the ship was at the end of a 14-day trip to the Caribbean. No other information about Minej was released. "We are deeply saddened by the loss of one of our crew members and our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this difficult time," the statement said. -PTI

Law for timely decisions in commercial disputes NEW DELHI: A judge presiding over an arbitration in a commercial dispute will have to settle the case in nine months unless a high court grants an extension, else he faces the prospects of being debarred from taking up new cases, according to one of the amendments cleared by government to the arbitration law. The amendments to the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996, aimed at sending a signal to the international community that settling commercial disputes in India is no more a difficult and costly proposition, were part of an ordinance cleared by the Union Cabinet. "Government brought an ordinance as it wanted the amendments, aimed at attracting foreign investments to come in place at the earliest," said a senior government functionary. The President will have to sign the ordinance before it comes into force. According to the amendments, the presiding officer of a commercial dispute will have to clear the case within a nine-month time frame. He or she will be free to seek an extension from the High Court. But in case of further delays, the High Court will be free to debar the arbitrator for a certain period. -PTI

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Taliban leader Mullah Omar hiding in Pak NEW YORK: Taliban's reclusive leader Mullah Muhammad Omar is alive and hiding in the Pakistani city of Karachi, a top Afghan intelligence official has said, echoing a similar assessment by Western intelligence officials. "There is a lot of doubt whether he is alive or not. But we are more confident that he is in Karachi," acting Afghan intelligence chief Rahmatullah Nabil was quoted as saying in the New York Times regarding Omar's whereabouts. A European official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said in the NYT report that there is a "consensus among all three branches of the Afghan security forces that Mullah Omar is alive". "Not only do they think he's alive, they say they have a good understanding of where exactly he is in Karachi," the Pakistani metropolis where some say Mullah Omar is hiding. The report said that Mullah Omar has always functioned more as the spiritual and ideological leader of the movement than as an operational commander. His inner circle, made up of village mullahs who have known one another for decades, has provided the active leadership of the Taliban's many local factions.

"But now one man, Mullah Akhtar Muhammad Mansour, has risen to the No 2 role and become the main link to Mullah Omar, allowing him to place his loyalists up and down the ranks," Nabil said in the report. Nabil, in his assessment, saw Pakistan's security establishment

Mullah Muhammad Omar

driving the changes, an appraisal shared by some Western officials. "Some said it was a bid for greater control over the insurgency; others saw it as the evolution of a long-running Pakistani effort to avoid the embarrassment of having Mullah Omar discovered being sheltered in their country," the report said. The report comes even as Pakistan tries to clamp down on ter-

rorists following the Taliban attack on a Peshawar school this month that killed 148 students and their teachers. Sharif vowed not to show any distinction between good or bad Taliban and "resolved to continue the war against terrorism till the last terrorist is eliminated."? Other Afghan officials, along with some European and American counterparts, said the suggestions that Mullah Omar had died were a propaganda ploy intended to weaken Taliban morale, not a reflection of the true thinking within the Afghan government. M a u l v i Najibullah, a senior Taliban military commander, said in a telephone interview from Peshawar, that he has "not seen Mullah Omar in a very long time". Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid credited Omar's reclusiveness with his survival, claiming that Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was found because he had couriers coming and going with videos and letters. "We are attempting to eliminate any possible opportunity that could end up helping our enemies find our leader," the report quoted Mujahid as saying. -PTI

THIS IS HON GANDHI DID IT: US Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard tries her hands on a spinning wheel during her visit to Gandhi Ashram in Ahmedabad on December 28

Indians in Kuwait advised to phase out passports DUBAI: Indians in Kuwait have fore the deadline to avoid any inbeen advised to urgently apply for convenience in obtaining valid re-issuance of new passports to visa for international travel. phase out all non-Machine Read"Many international travelers able Passports. may not realize that having a passThe International Civil Avia- port with short validity remaining tion Organization (ICAO) has set is sometimes not good enough to November 24, 2015 as deadline for obtain visas or to enter certain globally phasing out of all non- foreign countries, it said. Machine Readable Passports "Indian citizens traveling on (MRPs). From November 25 next year, foreign governments may deny visa "All handwritten passports or entry to any person with pasted photographs traveling on a non-Machine Readable Pass- are also considered port. non-MRPs," the statement "The Government of India has been issuing said Machine Readable Passports since 2001. The passports, however, issued passports which may expire in before 2001 and particularly those less than six months, should reissued during mid 1990s with a new their passports before any validity of 20 years will fall in the upcoming international travel," category of non-MRPs," the em- the statement said. bassy said in a statement. It is especially important to "All handwritten passports check the passports needs of any with pasted photographs are also minor who may be accompanying considered non-MRPs," the state- their parents as passports for miment said. nors have a shorter validity peIndians living in Kuwait hold- riod (five years) than passports ing handwritten passports, with for adults (10 years). Moreover, validity beyond November 25, some countries do not accept 2015, have been advised to get passports which may have fewer their passports reissued well be- than two pages remaining. -PTI

US radio to expand its Indian network WASHINGTON: Aiming to expand its operation in India, a US radio ministry has announced to develop its radio programming in the Telugu language. The Tide global radio ministry, which produces radio programs that tell people about Jesus in their mother tongues, currently

grams in 15 new languages. "Programming is also in development in the Telugu language in India," a media release said. "When we launched Vision 2015, the Tide had programs in 14 languages," Tide Director Don Shenk said. "Today, that number is 20, with

operates in seven languages in India - Kurukh, Santali, Odiya, Kui, Hindi, Ho and Bengali. Programming in Telugu language is likely to be introduced by next year as part of The Tide's Vision 2015 to develop radio pro-

several more on the immediate horizon," he added. New languages already added as part of the vision include the Ibibio, Anaang, Tiv and Nupe languages in Nigeria; the Tharu language in Nepal, and the Dzongkha language in Bhutan. -PTI

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Vedic Day Care Center celebrates Christmas India Post News Service

CHICAGO: Vedic Day Care Center in Chicago celebrated Christmas on December 24 with usual pomp and gaiety with children participating in staging performances related to Christmas significance and exchanging gifts. Vedic Day Care Center director Vrishabh Das welcomed the guests and offered season's greetings to all, including those who support the Center with financial and moral help. Among the supporters were Dr Modi, Kal Patel and Dr Mehta. Vedic Day Care center was established two decades ago to impart pre KG and KG education in oriental surroundings. Vrishabh Das is doing an excellent job in running the Center, said Madhu Patel, president of NRI Press Club.

The Center children with teachers

Vrishabh Das and Vedic Day Care Center students

Pilgrims of Char Dham to get better facilities DEHRADUN: Pilgrims visiting Char Dham in Uttarakhand from this year will get better amenities, including lodging facilities and medical aid, Chief Minister Harish Rawat said. "The state government is making all-out efforts to provide better facilities to pilgrims who will visit Char Dham this year," Rawat said while talking to a delegation of Char Dham Hotel Association, an official release issued here said. Rawat said, he himself will travel to different parts of the country to give a message of "Safe Uttarakhand" to people. Claiming that the staying facility for about 4,000 people will be provided to pilgrims at Kedarnath besides better tracking routes and

availability of medical teams, Rawat said that several helipads

will also be made between Guptkashi and Kedarnath. -PTI

PDP suggests alliance with NC, Congress SRINAGAR: The PDP has ment in the state, has asked its come out with the idea of a "grand newly-elected MLAs to go back alliance" with its arch rival Na- to their constituencies for getting tional Conference (NC) and the feedback from their constituents. Congress to form the new govAt the end of two days of inernment in Jammu and Kashmir, formal consultations with the introducing a new element in the party MLAs, PDP patron Mufti power sweepstakes. Mohammad Sayeed told them that Amid reports that the PDP, the they should go back to their resingle largest party with 28 mem- spective areas to sense the mood bers in the 87-strong Assembly, of the people on the possibility of was warming up to BJP, second allying with the BJP for formation with 25 MLAs in the hung House, of the next government, PDP for the first time it spoke of the sources said. possibility of a tie up with NC and The sources said the PDP paCongress both of whom have ex- tron wants to build a consensus tended support to it. Making a bid for getting into power for the Mohammad Sayeed told first time in the Muslimmajority state, BJP has them that they should go held talks with both the back to their respective PDP as well as the NC, which has verbally areas to sense the mood of promised its support to the people on the possibility keep out the saffron of allying with the BJP party. PDP chief spokesman Nayeem Akthar's statement that a grand alliance within the party before between the party, NC and Con- Mehbooba Mufti meets the Govgress "was also an option" to form ernor. a stable government led to specuEarlier, PDP set tough condilation on whether it was a tactic tions for BJP which is wooing it to put pressure on BJP to which for the formation of the new govPDP has set tough conditions inernment in the state, declaring that cluding retention of Art 370 that its stand against revocation of Art grants special status to the state. 370 was "non-negotiable". Meanwhile, Nirmal Singh, MLA In the midst of these deliberawho was Chairman of BJP's cam- tions, NC president Farooq paign committee during the elec- Abdullah and working president tions, said in New Delhi that his Omar Abdullah issued a gag orparty is in talks with other parties der to the party leaders asking and "all our options are open". them to desist from speaking to PDP, which is holding intra- the media over policy issues inparty discussions on possible al- cluding the post-assembly-poll liances to form the next govern- scenario.-PTI

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'PK' not disrespectful to any religion: Hirani MUMBAI: Saddened by the protests against his film 'PK', director Rajkumar Hirani has rejected allegations that the movie was disrespectful to Hinduism and insisted that it projects oneness of humankind.

made films like 'Munnabhai' series and '3 Idiots', said there was no intention to hurt anyone through the film and contrary to the objections raised by the groups, his film upholds the concept of oneness of all humans.

est regard towards all religions, and that we respect all religions and faiths." The film, which was released across the country on December 19, has already earned Rs 246.32 crore at the box office even as it has been

Scene from movie â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

As protests by right-wing groups continued, Hirani said he had no intention to hurt anyone's sentiments and maintained that the Aamir Khan-starrer upholds the true spirit of religion while condemning "only the abuse" of it. "I'm deeply saddened and concerned about the protests by some groups against our film 'PK'. On behalf of the entire team of 'PK', I would like to clarify that we respect all religions and faiths. 52-year-old Hirani, who has

"Our film is inspired by the ideas of Sant Kabir and Mahatma Gandhi. It is a film, which brings to fore the thought that all humans who inhabit this planet are the same. There are no differences," he said in a statement. He appealed to the protesting groups to see the film in totality and not just isolated scenes. "Our intention is not to hurt anyone, or to discriminate against any religion. I would once again like to assure them that I have the high-

facing protests from activists of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti and All India Mahasabha in some cities. Several FIRs have been filed in different parts of the country by right-wing groups who allege that 'PK' mocks Hindu gods and its contents were "highly provocative". "I have the highest respect for the concept of 'Advait' - the oneness of all humans - that is central to Indian culture, thought, and religion.-PTI

'Will see' if marine is fit to return to India: Italy ROME: The Italian government cused of killing two fishermen in "will see" if one of the two ma- Kerala in 2012, maintain that they rines accused of killing two Indian fired at them after mistaking them fishermen in 2012 is fit enough to for pirates while guarding an Italreturn to India, Foreign Minister ian oil tanker. Paolo Gentiloni has said. The marines had been living in The Foreign Minister said he the Italian embassy in New Delhi "hopes" for results in the case of since then waiting to be tried, and the two Italian marines were not supposed to leave the Massimiliano Latorre and country. Salvatore Girone. The situation has led to tense The remarks come after the Indian Supreme Court rejected a request from one of the marines, Girone, to return to Italy for the Christmas holidays and a petition from Latorre, to extend his stay in Italy for health reasons. Italian Marines Massimiliano Latorre (left) and Latorre Salvatore Girone had flown to Italy after suffering a stroke-like attack ear- relations between India and Italy, which says that India has no julier this year. Gentiloni, in a radio interview risdiction in the case. Gentiloni had earlier said, "The said that "we will see" if Latorre is well enough to return to India as harvest (from the dialogue with India) has been very disappointing. scheduled in mid-January. The marine's health is an "ab- If the agreement is what we saw solute priority," he was quoted as the other day, then we're not gosaying by the Italian ANSA news ing very far. I hope that different roads can be found in the next few agency. The two Italian marines, ac- days." -PTI

DU eases PhD norms for space, defense institutions NEW DELHI: Scientists and professionals working at defense and space institutions and aspiring to pursue doctoral studies from Delhi University will now be able to do so while continuing with their full-time jobs. Delhi University has made certain amendments in the rules for research courses, according to which scientists and professionals working at certain departments will not be required to take study leave for pursuing their PhDs. "The amendment in Ordinance VI-B exempts scientists and professionals from fulfilling the requirement of study leave and course work which are prerequisites for pursuing PhD at Delhi University," Malay Neerav, DU's Media Coordinator and Joint Dean of Welfare, told PTI.

According to the earlier rules, researchers could enroll with Delhi University only after they were

requirement of completing course work for at least one semester. "Both the norms have been

granted two-year study leave by their employers. There was also a

eased for the researchers falling under the category. A notification

was issued by DU after the decision was approved by the varsity's Academic and Executive Council," he said. "The move came after DU signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) in which a large number of institutes dealing with defense research are clustered and include areas like engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Life Sciences, Computer Sciences etc," added Neerav. An official notification issued

by DU in this regard read, "In order to advance research in strategic areas of national concern, scientists/professionals working at defense and space institutions of the central or state government and with whom the university has signed a MoU will be allowed to pursue PhD while working in their organizations." "However, the aspirants will have to pursue their PhDs on subjects that are of concern to their concerned departments. It will be important to have an approval from the Departmental Research Committee as well as DU's research council," Neerav said, adding "the move will not only facilitate the professionals to pursue PhD while continuing with their jobs but also contribute to DU's knowledge bank". -PTI

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Dhoni quits Tests, Kohli to lead in Sydney MELBOURNE: Mahendra Singh Dhoni surprised the cricket world with his sudden announcement of immediate retirement from Test cricket, making way for Virat Kohli to don the mantle of captaincy. Announcement of Dhoni's retirement after the wicketkeeperbatsman had played in 90 Test matches, 60 of them as captain, was made immediately after India lost the current Test series to Australia following a drawn third Test here. "One of India's greatest Test Captains under whose leadership India became the No. 1 team in the Test Rankings, MS Dhoni has decided to retire from Test Cricket citing the strain of playing all formats of Cricket," the BCCI said in a statement. "M S Dhoni has chosen to retire from Test Cricket with immediate effect in order to concentrate on ODI and T20 formats. BCCI while respecting the decision of M S Dhoni to retire from Test Cricket, wishes to thank him for his enormous contribution to Test Cricket and the laurels that he has brought to India," it added. India, trailing 0-2 in the fourmatch series after this draw, would be led by the 26-year-old Kohli in the fourth and final match in Sydney. Kohli has been India's standout performer with the bat in the ongoing series, having scored three hundreds so far. "Virat Kohli will be the captain of the Indian Team for the Fourth and Final Test against Australia to be played in Sydney from the 6th of January 2015," the BCCI

India have won just six away Tests out of the 30 that Dhoni has captained. Among the most embarrassing defeats under Dhoni were the 0-4 whitewashes suffered in England (2011) and Australia (2011-12). Besides the team also suffered defeats in South Africa and New Zealand and had been beaten by England yet again this summer. Yet the wicketkeeper-batsman remains one of the most successful captains ever for India, having led the side to the top of ICC rankings in Tests in 2009. With the team continuing to perform badly overseas, pressure was mounting on Dhoni to quit the job with former players and critics questioning his defensive leadership in the longer format. The criticism notwithstanding, Dhoni became the Indian captain to score most runs in Tests, making 3454 runs, going past Sunil Gavaskar (3449), Mohammad Azharuddin (2856) and Sourav

Mahendra Singh Dhoni with Virat Kohli

stated. The 33-year-old Dhoni, however, did not speak about his retirement at the post-match press conference or at the presentation ceremony. The announcement was made through a BCCI press release. The BCCI statement was a bolt from the blue as Dhoni, despite

his poor overseas track record as captain, had not given any indication that he would step down in the near future. Dhoni, who led India to an unprecedented two World Cup titles (2007 Twenty20 World Championships and the 2011 ODI World Cup), had been drawing flak for India's poor run in overseas Tests.

Dhoni did not take decision in haste: BCCI secy NEW DELHI: Mahendra Singh Dhoni's decision to retire from Test cricket with immediate effect might have stunned a lot of people

details of his discussions with Dhoni, he did admit that he knew that Dhoni wanted to "quit one of the formats" in order to concen-

Sanjay Patel

"I asked him," Is it your final decision and he told me "Please wait a bit as I want to inform the boys about my decision and then you can make an official announcement

but BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel said that "it wasn't taken in haste" and came after a lot of "soul searching and deliberations". Although Patel did not divulge

trate on remaining two formats. "MS is a very practical man. He called up just after the Test match in Melbourne and told me that he wanted to retire from Test cricket.

I asked him "what happened are you injured or what?" He just calmly told me "No, I just want to quit Test cricket for good." He is an Indian captain and a distinguished cricketer. It's his personal choice and I needed to respect that," Patel told PTI. "I asked him," Is it your final decision and he told me "Please wait a bit as I want to inform the boys about my decision and then you can make an official announcement. He duly called up and told me that I have informed the boys and you can go ahead. In the meanwhile, I also contacted chairman of selectors Sandeep (Patil) and Shivlal Yadav. Both felt that we should respect Dhoni's decision," the BCCI secretary said revealing the turn of events that unfolded. -PTI

Ganguly (2561). In 60 matches as captain, Dhoni had a decent 27 wins, 18 losses and 15 draws to show. In the 90 Tests that he was part of, Dhoni scored 4876 runs at an average of 38.09 with six hundreds and 33 50s to his credit. Dhoni did not play the first Test in the current series against Australia because of a thumb injury. In his absence, Kohli led the team and won accolades for his attacking approach. Many former players declared that it was time for Kohli to take over the leadership from Dhoni given that the incumbent had been struggling to present any fresh approach. Dhoni's rise was nothing short of meteoric as he took over the Test captaincy from Anil Kumble in 2008. In 2013, he became the most successful Indian Test captain when he eclipsed Sourav Ganguly's record of 21 victories from 49 Tests.-PTI

Roller-coaster ride as Test captain MELBOURNE: Two World Cup titles, No. 1 Test rankings, most number of wins under his belt but on the flip side, a spate of overseas Test losses, Mahendra Singh Dhoni's tenure at the helm of India's cricket captaincy was nothing short of a roller-coaster ride. The 33-year-old cricketer from Ranchi, who gave small town boys a chance to dream big, surprised the cricket world with his sudden announcement of immediate retirement from Test cricket. It all started for him with the 2007 World T20, and that was followed by a dream run in ODIs and Tests too, as he presided over India's rise to the pinnacle of Test cricket from 2009-11. Besides the triumph in the inaugural T20 World Championship, India also won the ODI World Cup in 2011 at home under his captaincy, breaking a 28-year-old jinx since the maiden triumph in 1983. He, as well as the national team, went through on-field

transition as well as off-field controversies surrounding the Indian Premier League 6 spotfixing scandal that rocked Indian

cricket. If he had faced criticism over the controversies, Dhoni was also not spared when it came to his batting especially against top quality bowling on the fast and bouncy wickets away from home.-PTI

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Top Bangla Jamaat leader sentenced to death DHAKA: A T M Azharul Islam, a top leader of fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami party, has been sentenced to death by a Bangladeshi special court for committing war crimes during the country's independence war

against Pakistan. The International Crimes Tribunal sentenced Islam to death after finding him guilty of charges likes genocides, murders, tortures and rapes. "He shall be hanged by neck until he is dead," pro-

2 Bahrainis jailed 21 years for robbing Indians DUBAI: Two Bahrainis, including a police officer, have been jailed for 21 years by a court for robbing two Indians and threatening some people with a knife. The duo, a 41-year-old policeman and a 20-year-old unemployed man, were convicted of theft and assault by the High Criminal court. The unemployed youth was also found guilty of impersonating a policeman, the

Gulf Daily News reported. Prosecutors said both men, along with an unknown Bahraini, raided an apartment building in the capital Manama on April 23 last year, and robbed an Indian of Bahraini Dinars 1,629 (Rs 2,752,571). Another 31-year-old Indian was robbed by them of Bahraini Dinar 600 (Rs 1,013,81), they said. -PTI

nounced chairman of the threemember panel of judges Justice Enayetur Rahim while delivering a 158-page verdict after Islam appeared on the dock. He said the convict deserved no punishment other than death penalty as five of the six charges against Islam were proved beyond doubt while in subsequent years after the independence he never showed any gesture of remorse for his acts in 1971.

Under the law, Islam, however, could challenge the verdict in the Supreme Court while he is the last of the top Jamaat leaders who were exposed to justice for committing crimes against humanity siding with the Pakistani troops in 1971. Islam, 61, was charged on six counts of atrocities and in one of the major proven charges he was accused of is leading the massacre of 1,225 people in Rangpur. He was also found guilty of abduct-

ing and murdering a Carmichael College professor and his wife. Tight security vigil was enforced as a microbus carried Islam, attired in a cream color coat, to the tribunal at the Supreme Court complex in the central part of the capital from Dhaka Central Jail. Senior police officials including Dhaka's police commissioner visited the court complex to oversee the security arrangements. PTI

Desi News Amethi Princess Mahima Singh joins OFBJP India Post News Service

SAN FRANCISCO, CA: Overseas Friends of BJP welcomed Princess Mahima Singh in the group, on Sunday, December 21 with an induction ceremony at Swagat restaurant, Milpitas, California. Mrs Mahima Singh is the grand niece of the former Prime-Minister of India, Vishwanath Pratap Singh and daughter of former Union Minister, Dr Sanjay Singh, currently Rajya Sabha Member. The event was attended by Core OFBJP volunteers, coming mostly from the hi-tech sector, led by Chandru Bhambhra, Past President of OFBJP, USA. The esteemed guest list included Ashok Bhatt and Rao Rohit Singh (renowned hoteliers), Niraj Baxi (past president of NFIA), Neeraj Paliwal (Stanford alumnus and cyber security expert and renowned architect Pankaj Jha. Amongst the core group of volunteers were Somanjana Chatterjee, Shivu Vibhuti, Raghavendran N., Govind V.S., Mahadev K., and Anirban Kundu. Details on page 22

Indian pharmacists hold Diwali Dinner Party Asian Media USA

CHICAGO: The Association of Indian Pharmacists in America (AIPHA) hosted its Annual Diwali Party on Saturday, December 13, in the Sheraton in Lisle that also coincided with the upcoming holiday season. It was an event that members, their families and friends await and enjoy the most AIPHA also took the opportunity to discuss the progress and outlook of the pivotal group for the over 400 guests in attendance. The program was highly successful with the active support of the Executive Board, AIPHA members and volunteers. Details on page 18

Joyful evening for Chicago seniors at annual event

COMMUNITY ACROSS AMERICA www.indiapost.com

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January 2, 2015

Details on page 20

Details on page 23

Gujarati Samaj and Hindu Temple ink historic deal ASHWIN PATEL

ST LOUIS: On Christmas Eve, Gujarati Samaj members and Hindu Temple of St. Louis members made history by signing an agreement that would not only keep the torch of culture burning but grow even brighter in the future. On this day, the Gujarati Samaj presented a check of $250,000 to the Hindu Temple to begin construction of the new building adjacent to the temple. In an auspicious moment, the priest offered at the feet of God, the documents reflecting the good faith of both the parties and for a bright future to next few generations. After the prayers, the documents were formally signed and presented to Hindu Temple along with the token amount. Gujarati Samaj has also committed to help the temple raise additional funds and assured another $50,000 upon occupying the building. Both parties have signed a lease of 99 years. The community center will have a kitchen and large hall with stage and classrooms in 8000 to 10000 square foot area. Gujarati Samaj will be able to host Navratri and other events at this community center. Bal Vihar of St. Louis is also part of this project The new center is being built for other organizations within the community. Having a center next to the temple will also help the families to leverage the opportunity to instill more culture and faith in their children. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 19

Signing of historic deal between Gujarati Samaj and Hindu temple of St Louis. Pics courtesy Manhar Bhakta

Presenting a check for proposed Center

JAYANTI OZA

There are consequences to every action that we perform

Happy members of Samaj and Temple in St Louis

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Germany's Gauselmann bows to 'Shiva' protest SURENDRA ULLAL

CHICAGO: Globally active Gauselmann Group, one of the "world's leading gaming companies, has expressed regret and announced removal of its Lord Shiva themed slot gambling game titled "Shiva", after huge protest from Hindus across the world Paul Gauselmann, Chairman of Espelkamp (Germany) headquartered Gauselmann AG, said: "We understand the confusion and irritation concerning this...Therefore, we will immediately remove this game from our games portfolio and no longer offer this. At no point in time did we have the intention to insult the religious or ideological feelings of Hindus. We truly re-

ety of Hinduism, welcomed the move on the part of Paul Gauselmann and thanked him and his company for understanding the con-

Zed observed. Inappropriate usage of Hindu deities or concepts for commercial or other agenda need to be universally

Developed by Merkur Division of Gauselmann Group, "Shiva" slot gambling machine showed a blue four-armed Lord

The Gauselmann Group

Lord Shiva on gambling machine

gret the confusion this has caused and you may rest assured that we will be even more diligent concerning the design and the designation of our games in the future." Rajan Zed, President of Universal Soci-

cerns of worldwide Hindu community, which thought usage of Lord Shiva on slot gambling game was highly inappropriate. Madhu Patel, founding president of NRI Pres Club said that this should serve as a message to many multinational corporations who time and again seek to denigrate deities of other faiths and religions, usually those highly worshipped by Hindus. Lord Shiva, who is highly revered in Hinduism, is meant to be worshipped in temples or home shrines and not for promoting gambling on slots for mercantile greed of an international company, Rajan

Plea to withdraw Kali mural from Brooklyn Museum India Post News Service

NEW YORK: Deeming it highly "inappropriate" portrayal of goddess Kali in a mural at Brooklyn Museum NY, Indians have urged the Museum authority to withdraw the mural. This 60-foot mixedmedia goddess Kali wall mural is part of recently opened "Eyes of Time" exhibition at Brooklyn Museum which is scheduled till July 12. It shows Kali with three legs, three breasts and six arms. Its face is a clock with no actual time. Taking the lead, Rajan Zed, president of Universal society of Hinduism, said that goddess Kali was highly revered in Hinduism and was meant to be worshipped in

temples or home shrines and not to be thrown around loosely in twisted versions

Goddess Kali mural

for dramatic effects on museum walls. "Such absurd depiction of goddess Kali with no scriptural backing was hurtful to the devotees," he said. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 20

condemned and appropriately taken to task thru available legal means, Madhu Patel added. Christian (United Church of Christ pastor Reverend Richard L. Smith), Buddhist (Jikai' Phil Bryan) and Jewish (Rabbi ElizaBeth W. Beyer) leaders had also come out to the support of protesting Hindus on this issue.

Shiva with dark red lips carrying damru in one hand. This five-reels and 50 win-lines gambling machine, besides Lord Shiva symbol (which substituted all symbols) also showed symbols of cobra, Taj Mahal, monkey, etc. "Step into the realm of the god Shiva and experience an exciting adventure!" website announcement said. It could be played live on various online casinos.

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Indian pharmacists hold Diwali Dinner Party Asian Media USA

Board, AIPHA members and volunteers. The Banquet was attended by dignitaries including Tim Schneider, Chairman Illinois Republican party; Dr Yash Amin, Director of drug compliance in the state of Illinois, Fernando Grillo Former Secretary of Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, John Lagattuta Director of Human Resources and Labor relations, Nimesh Jani Elected Trustee of Schaumburg Township, Ryan Higgins Republican Committeeman for Schaumburg Township, Jake Miller Our lobbyist for Pharmacy Association, Aarti Parikh Drug Compliance Investiga-

A section of the AIPHA Event audience with honored guests

tor, Steve Lawrence Cardinal Drugs and Bill than before because people enjoy networkBodin HD Smith drugs and Dale Smith as ing and being involved. This Diwali event today they complete 60 years in business. is good for students and all involved in The event started with the social hour fol- AIPHA." said Bharat Mehta, Accountant lowed by the main program. The program was for AIPHA gracefully emceed by Tushar Mehta. One highAward were given to Dr Yashwant Amin light was that the issues faced by indepen- for his Extraordinary Service and Dedicadent pharmacists in Illinois were discussed tion to Our Pharmacy Profession and Nimish and solutions sought. Harish Bhatt, president of the association, said that "Indian pharmacists are the largest minority in the pharmacy community, and we own the most pharSpeakers Tim Schneider, Chairman Illinois Republican party; Dr Yash Amin, macies in urIllinois Director of drug compliance ban areas. We not only provide a much needed health ser- Jani for his Positive Accomplishments and vice in poor communities, we also provide jobs Dedicated Service to Our Community for the residents of these areas" Delicious dinner was served by Saffron. Gita Patel, Pharmacist, stated, "This or- The evening's music was provided by DJ ganization has been around over 25 years. Sobash for the audience to dance till late This is the largest crowd that I have ever into the night. seen for this organization. It is a cause for The national organization of the Assoeveryone to get together to learn what is ciation of Indian Pharmacists in America going on in the pharmaceutical industry and (AIPHA) was founded in 1985 by 20 memto have fun." bers. Today, there are over 453 members. First time attendee pharmacy student The student chapter of AIPHA at the Unifrom Chicago State University, Aarti Shah versity of Illinois-College of Pharmacy was said, "This is a great event and we, the stu- established in 1996 with the same drive and dents are very happy to be invited to help initiative that was shown in 1985. The stucelebrate Diwali and contribute to AIPHA." dent chapter of AIPHA has established spe"The turnout is different every year for cific objectives that need to be fulfilled year this event. This year the turnout is more in and year out.

AIPHA team

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Willow Creek community's spectacular Christmas Party

Audience at Willow Creek Christmas celebration

seniors and were dressed in vibrant and colorful Indian attire. Despite adverse CHICAGO: Beautiful strains of melodi- weather, over 4750 joined the Christmas cerous carols, euphonic musical presentations, emony in the main auditorium and 1300 plus colorful dances, message centric skits and in Indian-Style Christmas Party after the serinspiring sermons marked the spectacular vice. The purpose was to organize the largest Indian Christmas celebration Saray Rodriguez was the coordinator of the event. The Indian-Style Christmas Party full of entertainment such as live traditional Indian Christmas music, dramatized presentation of the Christmas story, vibrant, authentic, and beautiful Indian dance performances including Christmas Bhangra, Veena player Smt Saraswatidevi Raas and Bharatanatyam were the Christmas Party organized by Willow Creek highlights of the celebrations. Christmas gift door/prizes, a traditional Community Church (WCCC) on Friday, December 19, in South Barrington, a northwest children's Christmas Pageant, Mehendi, photo ops, children's face painting, free suburb of Chicago. The attendees ranged from toddlers to Christmas gifts for all children, and all-youAsian Media USA

Gujarati Samaj and Hindu Temple ink historic deal Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 16

This proposed Community Center will provide the following: a place to celebrate and teach the cultures, arts and traditions of India, a place to provide a platform for education and enrichment activities promoting Indian culture and Hindu traditions; 13 classrooms in the Community Center to support programs such as art, music, yoga, and cooking classes. A place that creates a campus environment supporting various student interests and provides opportunities for leadership, development and personal growth. A center to host larger community events to highlight the contributions we make both

politically and professionally in the St. Louis area and beyond. An expanded dining hall, welcome area and additional 250 parking spaces. Gujarati Samaj made a fervent appeal to members of Indian community at large to contribute whole heartedly to the cause of the community and for betterment of future generations. One of the members said, "We need to bring the community together to create a stronger presence and to highlight the contributions our community has made to the greater St. Louis area. We have the opportunity to bring our young generation together in one place to help them grow the footprint already in place through this project."

can-eat Indian (and American) food were added attractions. The first 300 ladies also received free stocking-stuffers provided by Salon Elite! The program began with traditional Christmas songs sung by young children. Saray Rodriguez welcomed everyone to an Indian-Style Christmas Party and introduced Cheetra Thakkar. Yeshu Jayanthi was

marked by a colorful Veena recital by Saraswathi Ranganathan enthralling the crowd with foot-tapping rhythms of Holly Jolly Christmas, with Tony Karasek on Sitar and the skillful Dhananjay raining beats on the tabla. Tony then wonderfully played 'Oh Emmanuel' on the Sitar with Kalyan ably accompanying on the tabla. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 20

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Joyful evening for Chicago seniors at annual event JAYANTI OZA

Lamp lighting by Dr Bharat Barai, Anil Shah, Hashmukh Soni, Raman Patel and Usha Kamaria

Seniors enjoying Saregam Orchestra song

Willow Creek community's spectacular Christmas Party Cont’d from page 19

Saraswathi's Veena recital held the gathering in sway with an eclectic appealing mix of Carnatic improvisation, popular Christmas carols "Silent Night", "Joy to the World", "Oh Christmas Tree" concluding with a rollicking "We wish you a merry C h r i s t m a s " ! Saraswathi once again demonstrated that she is one of the most versatile artists in Veena playing multiple genres, skillfully interpreting sounds in novel ways that touch the heart of the critic and the connoisseur. Kalapadma Bharatanatyam Dance Academy presented a group dance for Christmas. This was choreographed by Smt. Ruth Varghese, the Artistic director of Kalapadma Dance Academy. They did Malhar

Thillana composed by Krishna Janakiraman and Agam the Band. They combined a popular Christmas song to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and to wish every-

Jenish Bulsara, and Tina Varkey. The audience loved their dance and gave them a lot of compliments. Ministry of Bhangra performed

CHICAGO: United Senior Pariwar Chicago (USPC), a Chicago based organization of Seniors, celebrated its Annual Program 2014 on December 28 at Kethy Hall in Niles, a northwest suburb of Chicago. More then 300 members and invited guests and sponsors participated in the program that commenced with Prarthana and Ganesh stuti. The lighting of ceremonial lamp followed the stuti and Dr Bharat Barai, a noted oncologist and a community activist, Anil Shah, President of World Money Exchange and the sponsor of the program Dr Dhiren Mistry, Usha Kamaria and Raman Patel, president of the organization, lighted the lamp. Ramesh Chokshi, secretary, welcomed the guests and intro-

duced Dr Barai and Anil Shah among others. Dr Barai in his brief address mentioned that he planned visiting India shortly and was scheduled to meet Indian PM Narendra Modi. "I will invite him to come to Chicago coming year," he declared amidst applause Ramanbhai Patel, president, briefed all those present about the various activities of the USPC. Hasmukh Soni, treasurer, took time to express gratitude to all supporters, sponsors and donors. Jaswant Seth extended welcome to Saregram Group that entertained the gathering in the evening. It was a joyful evening when some of the seniors danced while the Saregam Group of singers reeled out one after other songs from Bollywood. Cont’d on page 23

Plea to withdraw Kali mural from Brooklyn Museum Group of artissts with organziers and guests

one a Merry Christmas. Participants were Tina Shah, Nirvani Jairam, Pavani Jairam, Rebecca Joseph, Rainu Thomas, Anjali Varghese, Niyati Patel,

Children at the party

Bhangra to Punjabi folk songs. "Sirre utte maave wale pagh ban de, oh gaale kainte soneh ne". "Willow Creek Community Church Christmas Celebration was one of the largest and unique because of all different language speaking Indians regardless of their religion attended and enjoyed Indian-Style Christmas Party," said Verghese Chako Upcoming 2015 events are Ladies' High Tea - January 31, 2015: Successful Relationship Seminars - Wednesdays in January and Diwali Celebration in November and Christmas Program in December.

Cont’d from page 17

Neela Pandya, an activist, observed that such trivialization of goddess Kali was disturbing "the sentiment of devotees world over and that it would be appropriate for the Brooklyn Museum to withdraw it." Zed also asked Museum's Director Arnold L. Lehman to tender a formal public apology. "It was not that Indians do not concede that free speech or expression are taboos but when that expression starts hurting others and crosses the limit of decency, we get upset," said Sohan Joshi, president of National Federation of Indian Association. Hindus welcomed museums and artists to immerse in Hinduism but by taking it seriously and respectfully and not just for indecorous showing of Hindu symbols and concepts to advance their personal agenda. Casual flirting sometimes resulted in pillaging serious spiritual doctrines and re-

vered symbols and end up hurting devotees, Zed pointed out. Goddess Kali, who personifies Shakti or divine energy and is considered the goddess of time and change, is widely worshipped in Hinduism. There are about three million Hindus in USA. The Museum seems to have three Kali paintings in its permanent collection, which includes "Siddha Lakhsmi with Kali" painting from 1600s. This exhibition is organized by Assistant Curator Saisha M. Grayson. The Brooklyn Museum is one of the oldest and largest art museums in USA, whose roots extend back to 1823. Its permanent collection includes "ancient Egyptian masterpieces, African art, European painting, decorative arts, period rooms, and contemporary art". Elizabeth A. Sackler is Museum's Board of Trustees Chair while New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio serves on its Executive Committee as Ex-Officio member.

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United Telugu Christians celebrate Christmas SURENDRA ULLAL

CHICAGO: United Telugu Christian Community of Chicago (UTCC) held its 2014 Christmas Carols by Candlelight on Saturday December 13 at India Mission United Telugu Methodist Church,

UTCC 2014 which was attended by around 250 people. Rev. Thomas Polepaka, Associate Pastor of India Mission United Methodist Telugu Church, welcomed the Pastors and the attendees for the

ceed the proceedings successfully. UTCC Choir sang the popular Christmas Carols songs with joy. It was an evening of praise and worship to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Chandran, Vinod, Surekha Veerala, Suchith Karri, Jenner Kurut and Master Vamshi. Dr Willie Wilson, Member of Governor Bruce Rauner's Transition Team and the Mayoral Candi-

Introducing Dr Wilson, Dr Vijay Prabhaker, a community activist, mentioned his humble beginnings as a Janitor at a McDonalds to becoming the owner of Four McDonalds and then as President

Team of United Telugu Christian community of Chicago with Guests of Honor Dr Wilson and Richard Boykin Honoring Dr Wilson

Oak Park, a south west suburb of Chicago. Pastors from different local churches and their congregation participated in the celebration of

event. The opening prayer was offered by Rev. Anatha Rao Thalla, Pastor of Wesley Church of South India. Rev. Thomas Polepaka em-

The Group songs were sung by different local church choir members with enthusiasm and excitement of joy and ecstasy. Solo songs were sung by Rev. Mallela

date for City of Chicago and Richard Boykin, Commissioner of the Cook County First District, graced the occasion as Guests of Honor.

of his present medical equipment business. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 22

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Amethi Princess Mahima Singh joins OFBJP India Post News Service

(L to R) Ashok Bhatt, Neeraj Paliwal, Niraj Baxi, Bhrigu Raj Singh, Chandru Bhambhra, Somanjana Chatterjee, Mahima Singh, Anirban Kundu, Mahadev K. and Shivu Vibhuti, Pankaj Jha

to chart a course for modern India. However, the people of Amethi remained deprived of growth and development in the last 67 years

(L to R) Ashok Bhatt, Niraj Baxi, Chandru Bhambhra, Mahima Singh, Bhrigu Raj Singh, Shivu Vibhuti, Mahadev K., Somanjana Chatterjee and Neeraj Paliwal

Anirban Kundu. Mahima Singh reflects that the erstwhile Amethi Royal Family and Amethi have had a long standing association with Indian politics, pre and post-Independence and the family has been privileged to host leaders and visionaries who aimed

although the constituency has been in constant focus by the media because of its high profile political candidates. A recent family dispute in the royalty went to the extent of life threats for the brother-sister duo, Mahima Singh and Anant Singh.

But the rural residents of Amethi not only came in thousands to shower their support and goodwill to the heirs but braved bullets of the police to protect them from political and family onslaughts. Such love and respect for the heritage by the bourgeoisie have prompted Mahima and her husband Bhriguraj Singh Jhabua to join the BJP, to reconnect with their homeland and devote their time and resources for the welfare of its people. Mahima recalled that her grandfather Rajarshi Rananjay Singh resigned from the Congress party and joined Jana Sangh, which was the precursor of the BJP. Thus the family has a history with this political ideology that she intends to nurture. The 35 generations of rulers of Amethi focused strongly on the development of its inhabitants. The feelings that she and her brother have for the people are beyond any political aspirations.

(L to R) Ashok Bhatt, Govind V.S., Niraj Baxi, Chandru Bhambhra, Mahima Singh, Bhrigu Raj Singh, Rajesh, Mahadev K. and Shivu Vibhuti

But, the whole nation-building movement inspired by Narendra Modi makes her hopeful that it would sweep Amethi as well and she sees light at the end of the tunnel - elevating the region and the people from 35 years of misgovernance.

In India, over a separate ceremony, her brother Anant Vikram Singh was inducted into BJP at a grand ceremony in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, on the same day, by the UP-BJP President Laxmikant Bajpai as widely reported in the Indian media.

United Telugu Christians celebrate Christmas Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 21

He has donated over 30 million dollars a year to various charitable causes, Prabhakar pointed out. Dr. Wilson thanked UTCC for having him and announced his candidacy for the Mayor of City of Chicago seeking the community's support for his campaign. He asked the audience not to forget from where they have come. He presented a check for $5000 dollars to India Mission Telugu Methodist Church, Oak Park on the occasion. Gerard Moore, a team member of the U S Rep. Danny Davis, introduced the Commissioner Richard Boykin as a rising star who ensures the protection and promotion of minorities in all his endeavors. Boykin in his address thanked the UTCC for inviting him and outlined his agenda for 2015 stressing the need to involve the community in all aspects of County services. Boykin said he would strengthen the Mental Health System, County Jail Services, Health care and programs for the youth. India Baptist Telugu Church of Greater Chicago staged a Christmas Drama enjoyed by all. Bro.

Prabhudas Bhooshi gave a brief description of the Eliezer Ministry of Matrimony for the Telugu Christians who are residing in North America. He asked for coordination and help of the local pastors. Guest Speaker Pastor T. Bhupathy Rao from Fort Wayne Indiana spoke about three important things for Christmas - Joy, peace and love. He articulated the above three words in a very appealing way that touched everybody's heart. Proposing a vote of thanks, Rev. Wilson Doma expressed gratitude to God for His Grace to celebrate the Candlelight Christmas Carols and to all volunteers and supporters for the successful conclusion of the event. Prem Mitra announced UTCC events for the year 2015 and invited all to participate in UTCC Choir-led last song for the evening with the entire congregation with Candlelight singing Silent Night Holy Night. The event concluded with prayer by Rev. Rajamani Gonu, Pastor of the India Baptist Telugu Church of Oak Park. UTCC Christmas Sambaralu Telugu Songs CD were given to all for free as a Christmas gift.

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There are consequences to every action that we perform

SWAMI NIKHILANAND

he previous article (Study ing Gita on one's own en genders pride) explained the qualification for studying the Gita. We are now ready to start learning the main topics of the first chapter of the Gita, starting with

where a dharmic war was about to take place. However, the 'field of dharm' refers not only to Kurukchetra, but also to the world as a whole. The whole world being the field of dharm is an integral concept of

the first verse. The first word of the Gita (chapter 1, verse 1) is 'dharmakchetre', which literally means 'in the field of dharm'. At the time Shree Krishna spoke these words, He was at the battleground of Kurukchetra; so it might seem obvious that the 'field of dharm' He was referring to was Kurukchetra

Hindu philosophy. You could also say that the whole world is the field of karm - both ideas are interrelated. That is why this world is also referred to as our 'Karm bhoomi'.

The Field of Karm The world we live in is the field of karm because as long as we are

here in this world, we are bound by the law of karm. The world functions according to the law of Karm. The law of karm means that whatever actions we perform, anywhere in this world, we must receive the consequences. We are 'bound' by this law, because there is no escape from it and no way to circumvent it. Wherever we go in this world, the spiritual government (God) is watching our every thought, word and deed, categorizing all of it as good or bad (according to the intention behind it) and then arranging for us to receive the consequences in the form of good or bad destiny (in our future lives). In other words, one can say that every action has a 'karmic' reaction. Since this world is the field where we perform our actions, and it is the field in which we receive the consequences, hence it is the field of karm.

The Field of Dharm This whole world is also called the field of dharm, because not only are we being held accountable for all our karm, but there is a recommended course of action for us. That recommended course of action is called dharm. If we fol-

Joyful evening for Chicago seniors at annual event

Saregam Orchestra group Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 20

Anil Shah urged USPC to have three to four programs every year as Seniors really had a good time. Dr Barai offered his support for

this move. Narsiinhbhai Patel talked about having real good fun that seniors can have in their lives and pitched for physical activities, yoga, meditation and spending good time

with grand children Haribhai Patel said that USPC would organize a grand Diwali celebration this time and was hopeful that over 2000 seniors would attend.

Attracted to the teachings of low dharm, then we move in a positive direction - we improve our- Hinduism from a young age, selves. If we do not follow dharm, Swamiji eventually let his deep then we move in a negative direc- spiritual longing lead him to India, tion. So living in this world is an where he was most fortunate to opportunity to improve ourselves come under the guidance of Shree by following the path of dharm as recommended in the Vedas. Thus, it is called the field of dharm (for more information on the Vedas and dharm, see "The Gita Chapter 1, Part 1"). Dharm is Swami Nikhilanand of two kinds: the recommended actions Kripaluji Maharaj. Thereafter, livfor living a good life in the world, ing in the ashrams of JKP, he exand the recommended actions for tensively studied Hindi, the phiattaining God. The first kind of losophy of the prime Sanskrit dharm is called apar dharm and scriptures (Vedas, Darshan leads to peace of mind in this life Shastras, Gita, Bhagwatam), and and improved prosperity in the practiced meditation in the tradinext life. The second kind of dharm tion of raganuga bhakti. In 2003, is called par dharm and leads to he was given sanyas. Now, with the blessings of his God realization, the attainment of ultimate Bliss, and freedom from Guruji, he offers satsang programs throughout America, engaging rebirth. While apar dharm is limited to audiences with his clear explanathis transitory world and can only give temporary happiness, it is Wherever we go in this nonetheless important world, the spiritual governbecause it regulates people's behavior so ment (God) is watching our there can be peace and every thought, word and harmony in the family and society. Yet, it is still deed, categorizing all of it only a preliminary dharm. as good or bad (according If someone wants ever- to the intention behind it) lasting, perfect happiness, then they must and then arranging for us to graduate to the par receive the consequences dharm. This is the path to God, also called bhakti. It is the supreme dharm of tions of Hindu philosophy all the souls, and it is the main topic coupled with inspired chanting of of the Gita, which will be discussed Sanskrit mantras and shlokas and charming nam sankirtan. His inforin detail in later chapters. In the next article, I will discuss mative and compelling speeches why Arjun was confused about provide practical insight into how what his dharm was, and what the to adopt the teachings of Sanatan relationship is between duty and Dharm into our daily lives, and inspire us to awaken our inner spiriattachment. Disciple of Shree Kripaluji tual potential. To stay in touch with Swami Maharaj: Swami Nikhilanand Ji is a Ca- Nikhilanand Ji, like his Facebook at https:// nadian born Hindu spiritual leader page based in Austin, Texas. He is a w w w . f a c e b o o k . c o m / sanyasi disciple and pracharak of SwamiNikhilanand or follow him Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji on twitter at https://twitter.com/ Swami_Nikhil. Maharaj.

Tech News Affordability, user experience to rule smart phone mkt NEW DELHI: When it comes to a big market forcing a crash in the price line, India showed its might in the smart phones arena during 2014 with companies launching a plethora of affordable devices, but it also embraced the pricey new models of iconic iPhone with equal enthusiasm. In the New Year, the Indian smart phones market is expected to further consolidate its position, before emerging as the world's second biggest market in 2016. "Smart phone as a category is growing at a phenomenal pace. The Rs 5,000-15,000 category is exploding and we expect this trend to continue in 2015," Nokia India Sales (Microsoft Mobiles Oy subsidiary) Managing Director Ajey Mehta told PTI. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 25

Japanese experts to visit NE for infrastructure project TOKYO: A team of Japanese experts will visit India's northeastern states in the next three weeks to study the details for the survey for infrastructure development projects in the area, a top official here has said. The project is expected to start before the end of next year and will enhance connectivity and development in northeastern states, described by China as India's "most neglected region". "The preparatory survey has already commenced for the infrastructure development project which will include reconstruction of roads and old bridges," said Sinya Ejima, chief representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which provides technical cooperation and other forms of aid promoting economic and social development in India..-PTI

'Inter-connectedness exposes banking to contagion risk' MUMBAI: The Indian banking system faces a possible contagion risk in case of trouble at one bank given the inter-connectedness between some lenders, the Reserve Bank has said. The central bank emphasized that this inter-connectedness and the possible contagion risk is the reason why it is important to not only monitoring the interconnectedness, but also the counter-parties and magnitude of exposure involved in the connection.-PTI

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January 2, 2015

Company registration integrated with e-biz portal NEW DELHI: Moving forward with efforts to make the country a better place for doing business, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs has completed "arrangements" for integrating certain registration requirements with the upcoming unified e-business portal. Besides, the Ministry - which is implementing the Companies Act - has taken steps to make compliance and reporting more easy and convenient for corporates. The new government has initiated a slew of measures, including changes to the new companies law, aimed at ease of doing business.-PTI

2014 changed the way Indians did their shopping KOLKATA: Lured by heavy online discounts and easy home delivery of almost any product at the click of a button, shopping for Indians would never be the same again after 2014. What was limited to books, gadgets and few accessories in the earlier years, now expanded to include apparel, kitchen items, consumer durables, high-end

jewellery, furniture, or any other product you can think of buying over the internet. The big breakthrough in ecommerce came in October when the big three of Flipkart, Amazon and Snapdeal went into an overdrive to win customers and offered pre-Diwali sales with eye-popping discounts. Gadgets like smart phones, tablets, laptops, computer peripherals, consumer electronics, etc were sold way below their market price. Flipkart claimed to have sold goods worth 100 million USD (over Rs 600 crore) within 10 hours of its 'Big Billion Day' on October 6 but disgruntled bargain hunters complained of technical glitches and cheating. Snapdeal also pegged its sales figure to a similar amount while Amazon didn't disclose figures. In the past many used to research online about products and then buy it from a shop. Now the trend reversed as people walked into shopping malls to try which color and size of clothes or shoes suit them best and then went home to get a good deal online. Consumers even in smaller cities joined the bandwagon as

standalone shops noticed drop in sales. To retain his customer base, a computer hardware seller in the small Howrah town of West Bengal put up this board outside his shop: "Why buy online? We will offer you a lower price". Shopping malls which had high footfalls couldn't translate it into equivalently higher turnover as t h e y struggled hard to become more than just hangout joints. According to a latest study by Assocham-PwC, about 40 million consumers purchased something online this year and the number is expected to grow to 65 million by 2015. As smart phones become common and internet access easier, buying online became simpler with mobile apps. Cash on delivery option attracted a whole new set of customers

as it meant that those outside the ambit of net banking or credit cards could also shop online. It also won over those who were pessimistic about the quality of stuff bought over the internet as they could see the product before paying. Google's annual Great Online Shopping Festival (GOSF) kept the momentum at the end of this year with 80 lakh visitors to the site in

three days. Interestingly, highvalue products like flats, cars and bikes were also

sold online. Exclusive deals and tie-ups like that of Xiaomi phones with Flipkart added more spice to the boom. In some cities, young entrepreneurs even experimented with egrocery stores. Snapdeal went a step ahead and launched an online agri store offering products like seeds, fertilizer and irrigation tools to farmers.

Physical retailers who have alleged that e-tailers indulge in predatory pricing during flash sales online remain the most affected by the mad rush. The fear among mom-and-pop stores of being overshadowed by large retail chains and shopping malls are now a thing of the past as they have found a new common enemy.-PTI

Indian youth's company top seller in US WASHINGTON: A technology company founded by an IndianAmerican at the age of 19 has emerged as the largest online seller of silicon wrist band in the US. Mumbaiborn and Houstonraised Azim Makanojiya f o u n d e d W r i s t Band.com when he was a full-time student attending the University of Houston and was also financially supporting his family. After just one year in business, Wrist-Band.com pulled in over USD 6.9 million, a statement said.

It was at a trade show in China where the silicone bracelets caught the attention of

Makanojiya. "I was amazed by how much one could customize the product," Makanojiya said in a statement. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 27

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January 2, 2015

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Modi promises change in laws to boost manufacturing NEW DELHI: Keen on boosting domestic manufacturing, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised to change laws and style of government functioning to create jobs and bring the derailed economy back on track. Three months after launching the 'Make in India' campaign, he patiently heard industry leaders and government officials on impediments hindering the manufacturing sector and promised collective and transparent decision-making. "In the last three months the government machinery has geared up, and is now ready to change... If we have to change laws, we are ready. If we have to change rules, we are ready. If we have to change system, we are ready," he said after the day-long workshop on the campaign. Stating that silos in government functioning have been demolished, Modi stressed on collective decision-making. "Government is generally trapped in 'ABCD' culture from top to bottom.... A means Avoid, BBypass, C-Confuse, D-Delay.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing at the National Workshop on “Make in India”, in New Delhi on December 29. Union Minister for Finance, Corporate Affairs and Information & Broadcasting, Arun Jaitley and Minister of State for Commerce & Industry (Independent Charge), Nirmala Sitharaman are also seen

Our effort is to move from this culture to 'ROAD' where R stands for Responsibility, O-Ownership, A-Accountability, D-Discipline. We are committed to moving towards this roadmap," he said. He said human resource development, innovation and research should become a part of the government DNA.

Unveiling his vision for making India a manufacturing hub, he said: "Make in India will have to have a hash-tag of zero defect and zero effect on environment."We must look at how to develop Brand India globally... Unless it is there we will not be able to make a name for ourselves in the global market," he said.

Smart Cities should be in tune with 21st century: PM NEW DELHI: The 'Smart Cities', proposed to be created across the country, should be hubs of economic activity in tune with the 21st century and planning should visualize "urban-dependent" population in addition to the urban populace, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said. He made the remarks while chairing a meeting here on 'Smart City' initiative, marking the launch of consultations on his project to build 100 such cities across the country. The Prime Minister has asked the Ministry of Urban Development to convene a workshop of all central and state Urban Development Authorities at the earliest on the issue. He said one of the aims of the smart city initiative should be to improve the quality of urban governance, thereby lending greater strength to the overall governance processes of the country, a PMO statement said. Favoring identification of parameters that could be laid down for smart cities, he said these cities should be hubs of economic activity. Modi asked officials to identify the basics of infrastructure, quality of life, and citizen-centric services that would be essential to

cities of the 21st century. Advocating reforms in laws related to urban development, the Prime Minister said focus on "waste to wealth" i.e. solid-waste management, and waste-water treatment would be an important part of the development of smart cities.

He asked officials to visualize "urban-dependent" population, in addition to "urban" population, while planning for smart cities. Officials from the Prime Minister's Office, the Ministry of Urban Development and the Ministry of Information Technology were present on the occasion. -PTI

Affordability, user experience to rule smart phone mkt Cont’d from page 24

In 2015, there could be more "intense action" in the entry-level smart phone market as more companies launch affordable handsets, aimed at upgrading feature phone users, he added. As per research firm eMarketer, India will exceed 200 million smart phone users, topping the US as the world's second largest smart phone market by 2016, largely on the back of growing penetration of affordable smart mobile devices. Hemant Joshi, a Partner at Deloitte Haskins & Sells, also said that the affordable devices may remain key going ahead. "The focus will remain same on

Rs 10,000-13,000 price range for mass market. The price of smart phones and tablets is definitely coming down. Also, there might be price drop of the LTE enabled smart phones as India is ready for a massive LTE deployment," he said. According to research firm IDC, over 44 million smart phones were sold in 2013. Compared to that, handset makers have already sold over 59.3 million handsets in the January-September 2014 period. At the beginning of the year, IDC had estimated that total smart phone sales in the country would cross 80.5 million units in 2014. "Features and specification are something which can be matched anytime.”-PTI

Calling for a balanced development in the country, Modi said there should be maximum movement of man, material, money, machine and mineral across the country. "During the day-long effort, responsibilities have been fixed, roadmap has been prepared, required changes in policies have been decided... Now I don't think there is any requirement for paperwork. Now, things will be implemented automatically," Modi said. Modi said his Government was adding a new paradigm to the PPP (public-private partnership) model by involving all stakeholders in key decision-making processes. The Government, he said, hitherto operated in secrecy, but this workshop was an example of openness and working together to achieve desired goals. He called upon all sectors of manufacturing to take inspiration from the space sector and the achievements of India's space sci-

entists. "Growth should be balanced across India and special efforts should be made to ensure that the East, which is rich in natural resources, should be as developed as the Western parts of the country," he said. The Prime Minister was given presentations on 'Ease of Doing Business', and initiatives in over two dozen sectors including gems and jewellery, automobiles, oil and gas, power, and chemicals. He stressed the need for development of human resources which India would require over the next 30-40 years and called upon universities, institutions and industry to work together to make India a country of skilled people. "Unless we go to the world with innovation and research... like in the IT sector we have shown our prowess 25 years back but we didn't create a 'Google', our talents have gone abroad," he lamented. -PTI

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Easier entry, competitive taxation RBI pitches for structural reforms; sees 6% inflation to boost manufacturing: FM NEW DELHI: Blaming high cost of capital for slowdown in manufacturing sector, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has pitched for removal of entry barriers and favored a globally competitive

Jaitley said high interest rate is the "singular factor" which responsible the slowdown in manufacturing sector. "The entry point into the manufacturing sector itself has to be eased. Our initial barriers have to be lowered and perhaps even removed. If we keep the doors closed, investments won't come in," he said. He further said there is a need to ensure liquidity in the markets. "We need to ensure capital is available, we need to ensure that those sectors which are starving we are in a position to provide adequate capital to those industries." Jaitley also rejected Rajan's criticism of Modi's pet program 'Make in India', saying that it is about manufacturing of quality products at low costs and it was not relevant whether they are sold in India or abroad. "Whether Make in India is made for consumers within India or outside is not so relevant. The Union Minister for Finance, Corporate Affairs and Information & Broadcasting, principle today says that consumArun Jaitley addressing at the National Workshop on â&#x20AC;&#x153;Make in Indiaâ&#x20AC;?, in ers across the world like to purNew Delhi on December 29 chase products which are cheaper and are of good quality. They hire taxation regime to attract invest- itself is going to add to the com- services which are cheaper and ments and boost growth. plications for investors. good quality," Jaitley said. "We have to put house in or"Danger would be if we lost out Earlier this month, Rajan had der," Jaitley said, to accelerate the on cost, if we lose out on quality sounded a word of caution about growth, as the manufacturing sec- then we will be faced with a situa- the new government's 'Make in Intor was not growing as per its po- tion, where we become a nation of dia' campaign, saying it assumes tential and radical steps might be traders rather than a nation of an export-led growth path of China required to revive growth in this manufacturer," Jaitley said. and it should rather be 'Make for key segment, although as results He said there was a need to India' with a focus on manufacturwill not be visible overnight. ensure liquidity in the markets. ing products for the domestic marSpeaking at a day-long work- "We need to ensure capital is ket. shop on Make-in-India, he how- available; we need to ensure that The Governor had said he was ever said Indian economy may those sectors which are starving "cautioning against picking a parimprove slightly after two years of we are in a position to provide ticular sector such as manufacturslowdown and the next fiscal ing for enwill be even better. courage"The entry point into the ment, simmanufacturing sector itself has ply because to be eased. Our initial barriers it has have to be lowered and perhaps worked well even removed. If we keep the for China. doors closed investments won't "India is come in," he said. different, Jaitley said tax regime and develshould be compatible with rest oping at a of the world as when people different buy goods "they do not like to time, and we purchase taxes along." should be Stating that manufacturing agnostic will remain a challenge unless about what radical steps are taken, he said will work". cost of capital is the single facStresstor that has in recent times ing on the RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan slowed manufacturing. importance On ease of doing business, of domestic the finance minister said, "What adequate capital to those indus- manufacturing, Jaitley said: "... if is it that has happened in the last tries. we lose out on cost, quality then few years that added to complicawe would be threatened with a tion of doing business (in India). Rajan criticized situation where in we would beWas it the uncertainty over the tax Criticizing the monetary policy come nation of traders rather than administration (that) has scared in- of RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan, nation of manufacturers". -PTI vestors away? Has it not resulted in close down of plants which were comparable to global competitors?" Referring to the tough Land Acquisition Act, he said the law

MUMBAI: Pitching for structural reforms to reinforce investor confidence, Reserve Bank of India has said falling inflation and political stability have helped check the macroeconomic vulnerabilities, while retail inflation is expected to stabilize near 6 per cent level in 2015. The central bank, however, flagged lower revenue mobilization this fiscal as a "major concern" and said that the asset quality remains a grey area in the banking sector. It also sounded caution over the recent phenomenon of FIIs showing greater interest in the Indian debt markets, saying this trend can turn volatile in the wake of changes in global markets, especially in the US, the world's largest economy. If the US surprises investors with changes in its monetary policy, there might be certain adverse impact on domestic markets, RBI said. "On the domestic front, macroeconomic vulnerabilities have abated significantly in recent months on the back of improvement in growth outlook, fall in in-

flation, recovery in external sector and political stability," the central bank said in its latest Financial Stability Report (FSR). Inflation, a guiding factor which has resulted in the elevated rate structure, will be at 6 per cent-mark for 2015, up from the 4.4 per cent

in November 2014, it said. "The Reserve Bank's latest projections suggest that CPI inflation over the next 12 months may hover around 6 per cent if international crude prices remain at the current levels and monsoon next year turns out to be normal." The RBI acknowledged investor optimism over the India growth story and said the challenge ahead for the government is to deliver "commensurate structural reforms".-PTI

Task force set up to boost mobile manufacturing NEW DELHI: The Government has set up a joint task force, which will include industry representatives from Samsung, Microsoft Devices and Lava, to rejuvenate nation's mobile phone manufacturing ecosystem with a view to achieve production of 500 million units of mobile handsets by 2019. Industry body Indian Cellular Association (ICA) National President Pankaj Mohindroo has been appointed as Chairman of the task force. Nokia SEZ President and Director - India Operations Josh Foulger has been made co-chairman along with Lava Co-Founder Hari Om Rai. Samsung India Managing Director BD Park, Sony India Kenichiro Hibi, Microsoft Devices Director for Government relations Sandeep Bhargava, LG India MD

Soon H Kwon, Micromax Informatics Co-founder Vikas Jain are also on board as members of the task force. The Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DEITY) Directors SK Marwah and Asha Nangia will represent gov-

ernment in this task force. In an office memorandum, DEITY has announced setting up of a 'Fast Track task Force' to "re-establish and catalyse significant growth in mobile handset and component manufacturing ecosystem in India." -PTI

January 2, 2015

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Govt eyes investment, reforms for power sector NEW DELHI: With an ambitious target to give 24X7 electricity to all, the government is eyeing Rs 3 lakh crore worth investments in power transmission and distribution business, as it gears up to free the sector from a gridlock of fuel scarcity, regulatory clogs and other issues. Leading from the front, Power Minister Piyush Goyal is confident that the results would start showing in the New Year and a right foundation has been laid to 'power up' the power sector since a new government took over in May this year.

Indian youth's company top seller in US Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 24

"There was not a single site in the US where individuals could tailor bands online. So I created a site that gave the customer the freedom to decorate a band anyway they liked," he added. Take the popular Livestrong wristbands idea, make them customizable and deliver them to the hands of consumers, he said. From molding and tooling to identifying product demand through AdWords, Makanojiya thoroughly researched every anticipated aspect of the business. Starting with a limited budget, Makanojiya was challenged with running a separate business and managing a new venture. "At that time, it was just a startup. I still had to maintain my original business, which was a pretty good chunk of my family income," Makanojiya explained. "My family was not financially well and they relied on my income. That was the dilemma. Should I focus more on the startup or on what I was currently doing?" he said. Before a platform was developed Makanojiya and his two-men team were taking orders over the phone, jotting them down on an order sheet that they created and submitting orders every night. The small idea evolved into one of the fastest growing promotional product manufacturers in the industry. "The only reason that this could happen at a very fast pace, from my point of view, was because we had the drive," Makanojiya said. In 2011, they were inducted into the prestigious elite inc 500 companies, coming in at number 31 and continues to be one of Houston's fastest growing technology companies. "The interesting part of our company is that we are not a manufacturing company. We tell everyone that we make wristbands but the beauty of our company is we are a technology company. We don't have a single equipment that touches the product. If you order a product from us, we don't touch it," Makanojiya said. "We're a technology company and we're basically providing that portal for you to place your order and get your products seamlessly," he added. -PTI

The ray of hope for 2015 follows a year mostly marked with the drying up of investments, fuel supply bottlenecks and the gnawing transmission problems. "We are planning investments of Rs 3 lakh crore in the T&D sector and have already started the Deen Dayal Grameen Jyoti Yojana and Integrated Power Development Scheme, with all this I think we will be able to reach the length and breadth of the country and enhance the T&D network and make sure everybody gets adequate power," Goyal told PTI. The investment banker-turned-politician has already laid out an ambitious target of

the new government to provide 24X7 power supply to all households in the country by March 2019 - a deadline that is little over four years away now. "We believe our steps to increase coal production are on the right track, our targets are quite doable, whether it is renewable energy, coal production or 24x7 power, we are very confident of our targets," Goyal said. The mass cancellation of coal mines was a big 'shock' for power sector in 2014, but the sector is hopeful that this thorny issue of fuel supply has been put to rest with the launch of a transparent auction process for coal mines.

"2014 was a turbulent year for the power sector players with Supreme Court canceling captive coal blocks, inadequate fuel supply to power plants, no long term power procurement bids on offer, plummeting short term power rates and inadequate tariff hikes because of elections," Debasish Mishra, Senior Director, Consulting, Deloitte India said. However, Goyal differed with this observation and said that the electricity generation has grown in double-digits and coal production has also shown an upswing since he assumed office about six months ago. -PTI

TOP TEN HINDI FILM SONGS

1 Dance Basanti : Ungli 2 Manali Trance : The Shaukeens 3 Jee Karda: Badlapur 4 Manwa Laage : Happy New 28 India Post

January 2, 2015

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5 Tharki Chokro : PK

nushka Sharma is basking in the glory of her latest release PK. The actress has apparently taken a well deserved break and flown to Melbourne for the holiday season, according to reports. As per a report on pinkvilla.com, Anushka has joined boyfriend Virat Kohli to ring in Christmas and the New Year in Australia. Virat is in Melbourne for the India-Australia cricket match. The report further states that the alleged love-birds were seen walking hand in hand. An onlooker mentioned that the high profile couple returned to the hotel only very late at night. it looks like the two were not too eager to be photographed. After keeping mum about their relationship for quite sometime, both Anushka and Virat agreed to their relationship, refusing to divulge details and make it entertainment news.

A y a n Mukerji has postponed his superhero film starring Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt so that his mentor could begin his directorial with RK. Ayan Mukerji has been working on a superhero flick since the release of his last directorial, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani in 2013. He was set to start the Ranbir Kapoor-Alia Bhatt starrer in mid 2015 and his good pal Ranbir had allotted a chunk of dates to him too. However, Ayan's mentor Karan Johar announced his own directorial - Ae Dil Hai Mushkil - with Anushka S h a r m a , Aishwarya Rai and Ranbir Kapoor. And the project has had a domino effect on Ayan's film. It is learnt that Ayan has pushed his own film by around six months so that Karan can start his. A source close to the development said, "Karan wanted to start his film first but Ayan had Ranbir's dates from June." Karan who produced both of Ayan's films, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani and Wake Up Sid, then asked his protege to spare him those dates.

Year

6 Jaise Mera Tu : Happy Ending 7 Mileya Mileya : Happy Ending 8 Superman : Tevar 9 G Phaad Ke : Happy Ending 10 Chaar Kadam: PK

rjun Kapoor says he wants to push and rein vent himself with each role because he finds challenging characters fascinating. The 29-year-old star, who has starred in 'Ishaqzaade','2 States' and 'Finding Fanny' in his three-year-old career, says any character which is not close to his real-self excites him. "Any character that's not me appeals to me. It is boring to play yourself and it is not easy also beyond a point to be yourself in front of the camera. Audience will be bored seeing me like that as I feel I am not that exciting to watch. "I want to discover new characters, new worlds and facets. I would like to do something which I have never done in life," Arjun told PTI in an interview. The actor has done a couple of action-drama films, 'Aurangzeb', 'Gunday' and his latest 'Tevar' but says he does not want to stick to the same genre.

"I want to discover new characters, new worlds and facets. I would like to do something which I have never done in life,"

Bollywood

January 2, 2015

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icha Chadda, known for playing a brave and bold girl on the big screen, recently gave an earful to two men who misbehaved with her. The actress says all women must express themselves in such situations. Recently, the "Tamanchey" actress was having a great time with her friends at a gathering. Soon after the party started, Richa was followed by two men who constantly stared at her and passed lewd comments about her appearance. Initially, Richa chose to keep mum to avoid any chaos at the party, but the situation went out of hand when one of the men clicked a photograph posing next to her and didn't even bother to take permission before doing so. She lost her cool and gave an earful to the duo. Security personnel then intervened. Richa is livid about the incident. She says, "We as public figures must set an example to let women know that they must speak up w h e n someo n e crosses t h e line."

rachi Desai who was last seen opposite Emraan Hashmi in the 2010 period crime drama 'Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai' will pair up with the actor again for another Balaji production. She will play Mohammed Azharuddin's first wife Naureen in the biopic being helmed by Tony D'Souza. The former India captain married Naureen in 1987. During their nine-year marriage they became parents to sons, Asad and Ayaz. They divorced in '96 and soon after, Azhar married actress Sangeeta Bijlani. Ayaz died in a biking accident in 2011 at the age of 19. Prachi insists that she's nothing like Naureen but is keen to play a woman who was never in the limelight despite the fact that her husband was a cricketing star. "This is the second time I will be playing a Muslim woman and put a face to a young and innocent character who has never been spoken about," she says, admitting that while Emraan has already started working on his look, hers is yet to be finalized. The actress is not a cricket buff. "I had not followed Azharuddin's cricket or political career until I was approached for the biopic. I have read the script and will be meeting Naureen soon," says Prachi. Buzz is, Kareena Kapoor will play Sangeeta.

hile most of the industry takes a break during the year end holidays, not every one falls within that roster - one such being the classic beauty Aditi Rao Hydari. It is believed that Aditi will be spending the entire holiday season on sets of her films all of which are scheduled for a 2015 release. "Aditi has quite an eclectic and anticipated line up to her credit: Wazir with Mr Bachchan and Farhan Akhtar; Aur Devdas by Sudhir Mishra; Fitoor by Abhishek Kapoor; The Legend of Michael Mishra by Manish Jha, produced by Eyecandy Films, and G u d d u Rangeela by Subhash Kapoor. She has been shuttling schedules of her film shoots from Kashmir to Lucknow to Delhi to Mumbai to ensure she completes all within the stipulated time. Also, she has a personal belief of ensuring that she ends a year and starts the next on a working note so that the work continues with as much vim and vigor in the year ahead," says an insider. She also managed to make the most out of a weekend break she spent with school friends who were visiting her from Hyderabad and enjoyed some fantastic fun time.

She has been shuttling schedules of her film shoots from Kashmir to Lucknow to Delhi to Mumbai to ensure she completes all within the stipulated time

Realty Tidbits

Credai calls for reforms in realty sector MUMBAI: Government needs to introduce new reforms and ensure their prompt implementation to revive the real estate sector, industry body Credai has said. The Confederation of Real Estate Developers' Association of India (Credai) also sought "political will" for reforms. "We need fast implementation of reforms in the New Year or else there is a risk of losing steam," Credai Chairman Lalit Kumar Jain said in a release. Rising prices of steel and cement continue to be a cause for concern and the Centre needs to take steps to regulate the prices, he said. "The continuous fall in fuel prices is not translating into price reduction of cement, steel and even transport. In spite of slowdown in consumption, we saw a huge rise in cement and steel prices. The government needs to regulate steel and cement prices just as the power regulators monitor tariff," he said. Prices of cement, steel rods, bricks and other input materials have increased by 30 per cent over the last thee years, he said. -PTI

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January 2, 2015

MUMBAI: Coming down hard on an illegal realty investment scheme, estimated at about Rs 886 crore, Regulator Sebi has barred Sai Prakash Properties Development and its directors from raising funds from public. The Madhya Pradesh-based company has also been restricted from launching any new investment scheme. Initial probe by Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) found that Sai Prakash had mobilized funds promising an "expected return of participation" under a camouflage of a "Joint Venture Association" only to mislead and attract investment from the general public. -PTI

Top 10 mortgage tips for 2015 JANNA HERRON

fter mortgage rates stayed surprisingly low in 2014, who knows how they will shake out in the New Year? Either way, borrowers who want to refinance or buy a home have the best chance to get the lowest rate by knowing more, not less, about the mortgage game. These 10 tips can help you navigate the mortgage process in 2015. 1. Pay less mortgage insurance Many homebuyers don't have enough cash on hand to make a 20 percent down payment, which means that they generally are required to pay for mortgage insurance as part of their monthly mort-

hiccups down the line. With a real preapproval, a mortgage broker or bank loan officer will pull your credit report and submit supporting documentation to their automated underwriting system. This allows the bank to give you more accurate terms based on your actual credit score, debt obligations and income, instead of relying on your estimates. It also puts you ahead of the process when you finally go into contract and could help you close faster. 3. Maintain your credit profile In the months leading to your home purchase, avoid changing your credit obligations, especially

Microtek to invest Rs 500 cr in housing project NEW DELHI: Action group realty firm Microtek Infrastructures will invest about Rs 500 crore to develop a housing project in Gurgaon. Mictrotek Infrastructures, an equal joint venture between Action group and Okaya Power, has awarded Rs 300 crore worth contract to L&T for construction of this housing project spread over 14.6 acres. "We are developing a housing project in Gurgaon comprising 716 units. The construction of the project has started and we expect to deliver this project early 2017," Microtek Infrastructures Managing Director Ajay Aggarwal said. The project cost is estimated at Rs 450-500 crore and the same would be funded through internal accruals and bank loans, he said. Aggarwal said the company has roped in construction major L&T to execute this project. "The contract with L&T is worth Rs 300 crore. We are using aluminum shuttering technology in this project for smooth structures and durability," he added. Microtek Infrastructures has huge land bank in north India and is planning to develop more projects in future. -PTI

Sebi stops illegal investment plan by Sai Prakash

gage payment. This insurance protects lenders when a borrower defaults on the loan. Until late 2014, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac required down payments of at least 10 percent. The requirement pushed many homebuyers into Federal Housing Administration-insured loans, which have a minimum down payment of 3.5 percent. The problem is that FHA premiums are costlier than private mortgage insurance. But in 2015, qualified borrowers will be able to get Fannie- and Freddie-backed mortgages with down payments as little as 3 percent. Mortgage insurance premiums vary according to credit score and size of down payment, but private mortgage insurance premiums generally are more affordable than FHA premiums. 2. Get a thorough preapproval Not only do sellers often prefer buyers who come preapproved by a lender, making their offers more attractive, but a preapproved mortgage also can help you avoid any

between a preapproval and the closing of your mortgage. The reason? It could hurt your credit score in a way that would raise the rate and fees related to your loan or, at worst, keep you from qualifying altogether. Don't close or open any credit cards. Keep balances on your credit cards within normal range so it won't mess with your debtto-income ratio, a key factor in determining mortgage rates. And don't buy a new ride. The car company doesn't care if you have a house, but your mortgage lender cares if you have a big car payment. 4. Get organized Gather and keep every piece of financial paper in the two months leading up to buying a house. That means pay stubs, bank statements for savings, checking and investment accounts, W-2s, tax returns for the previous two years, canceled rent checks and any mortgage or property tax statements for other property you own. And for

gosh sake, it's almost 2015. Put these in PDF format to make it easier to send to your mortgage broker or bank. 5. Don't move money around In the months leading up to your home purchase, keep your hands off your finances. That includes moving money from a savings account into a certificate of deposit, or CD. It also means no cashing in investments from stocks, retirement accounts or CDs. Otherwise, you will create a huge headache for yourself as you try to show the bank the paper trail of where that money came from. In a similar vein, avoid paying off debts with savings because that could cause your lender to worry about how you will pay for closing costs. 6. Prepare to write letters Lenders these days scrutinize every corner of your financial life, and if something looks funny, even just a little bit, they will want to know why. That means you will have to write letters explaining the oddity. For example, they may want a letter explaining why a credit card issuer pulled your credit three months ago when you applied for

a store credit card. Or, why Grandpa gave you a check for $500 around Christmas. Lenders also may want you to explain why you changed jobs a few months ago or why you moved around several times in the past year. Don't fight it. Write 'em, send 'em and move on.

7. Get your gift early If a family member is gifting some or all of your down payment, make sure it's deposited in your bank account more than two months before you apply for a mortgage. That way, the bank won't need to source the large deposit. Otherwise, the giftgiver will need to sign a gift letter, stating that the money is indeed a gift and not a loan. The giver also will have to provide the bank with a copy of the check before closing and verification that they have the funds to give by supplying either bank statements or a letter from the giver's bank. 8. Self-employed? Plan ahead even more Self-employed borrowers have a higher hurdle to overcome after stricter mortgage requirements went into effect in 2014. The rules require documentation of income that includes two years' worth of tax returns, a typically unreliable record of a self-employed person's take-home pay. To get around it, self-employed borrowers should plan to take fewer deductions the years before buying a house to boost

their overall income. If they can't, they may consider a co-signer on the loan whose income is documented by W-2 statements. Otherwise, they may need to search out an unconventional loan that can qualify them based on bank statements alone. Cont’d on page 31

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Supertech promises free add-on flat NEW DELHI: In an unbelievable discount offer to beat slowdown blues, realty firm Supertech has claimed to offer a free add-on studio apartment with the purchase of a luxury flat, but 'conditions apply' like all such schemes. The offer comes with quite a few riders - the scheme is valid only for top-floor flats and the cost of the flat stands at Rs 1.38 crore, while the 'free' studio apartment carries a price tag of Rs 22 lakh and is located several kilometers away at another project. So far, some realty developers have offered freebies like cars, ACs and other household items, but this one beats all such discount games that real estate companies come up with to lure buy-

ers in a sluggish market. Under the scheme, if customers purchase 2,300 sq ft top floor flats worth Rs 1.38 crore in Capetown project near Noida City

Centre, they will get free studio apartments of 500 sq ft worth Rs 22 lakh in Golf Village project on Yamuna Expressway in Greater Noida.

Supertech expects the scheme to boost the sales volume and also improve its cash-flow. "In order to boost sales, Supertech announces buy one get one free offer on one of its residential project Capetown located in Noida. The offer is available only for the top floor apartment buyers in 'Cape Crown' of Capetown Project," the company said in a press release. Noida-based Supertech will also give free Flipkart gift vouchers worth Rs 1 lakh to its prospective customers. Apart from this, the customers can avail the benefit of 'no EMI' till possession, the company said. Supertech Chairman R K Arora said: "The offer is indeed a value

for money for prospective customers. The possession of our Capetown project has already started since Diwali and this scheme is well suited for the customers who are looking for ready to move in flats. "We are happy to offer this scheme as it will not only increase our cash flows but also boost the sales volume significantly." The project 'Capetown' is spread over 50 acres comprising 7,000 housing units. Supertech is currently developing over 90 million sq ft. The company has presence in Noida, Greater Noida, Gurgaon, Meerut, Moradabad, Haridwar, Rudrapur, Ghaziabad and Bangalore.-PTI

Bengaluru to see highest office space absorption BENGALURU: The country's IT capital is expected to see the highest office space absorption among the key cities of India next year, says the latest office report by global real estate consultancy firm Cushman & Wakefield. The total estimated Grade A office space absorption in India is expected to be approximately 36.8 msf (million square feet) in 2015, while the supply will be approximately 46.4 msf in the same period, it said. The demand for office space in

India would be driven by general growth in corporate activities both from global as well as domestic companies, which are expected to ramp up their operations in view of economic and political stability, C&W said in a release. It said Bengaluru is expected to have the highest absorption of approximately 11.1 msf, followed by NCR at approximately 6.8 msf of office space absorption. Sharing details from the report, the release said this will be at significantly improved levels com-

Top 10 mortgage tips for 2015 Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 30

9. Know your refi magic number If you're thinking about refinancing your home loan, figure out what mortgage rate you need. It's not an easy number to calculate because you need to look at a host of factors regarding your loan, including what you want to

get out of the refinance. For example, the refi scenario may differ a lot if you're seven years into your mortgage versus if you're just three years into it. Talk to a mortgage professional about your goals and what it would take to refinance. Your broker will help

you find the rate that benefits you most. 10. Get creative with a reverse mortgage Older homebuyers, especially those with fixed incomes, may want to consider a reverse mortgage to buy a home instead of draining retirement funds. A reverse mortgage lender contributes up to 52 percent of the sales price of a new home, while the senior, who must be at least 62 years old, comes up with the rest. The house is titled in the borrower's name, but the lender retains a security interest in it. There are no monthly payments, and when the home is sold or no longer the borrower's primary residence, the reverse mortgage must be repaid. Any remaining equity belongs to the borrower, heirs or estate. Bankrate.com

pared to 2013 and 2014 highlighting the impact of improvement in

business sentiment, political stability and macro-economic scenario on office market absorptions. The trend is expected to gather pace in the second half of the New Year continuing its momentum into 2016, it added. "Further improvement in occupier sentiment is anticipated next year as occupiers pursue growth strate-

gies. Relocations and consolidations will also continue with occupiers increasingly adopting innovative workplace strategies to attain efficiency in operations and costs," said Sanjay Dutt, Executive Managing Director, South Asia, Cushman & Wakefield. "Rents in suburban and peripheral locations will be largely rangebound next year due to steady infusion of supply but are expected to start firming thereafter as the supply pipeline shrinks," he added. -PTI

99acres.com partners with Puravankara Projects MUMBAI: Real estate portal 99acres.com of Info Edge India Ltd has partnered with Bengalurubased Puravankara Projects to offer online booking services for their homes. Projects under the 'Puravankara' and 'Provident' brands of the company will be available on the portal and 99acres will offer 3D floor plans and online booking to potential buyers, a release issued here said. "Until recently, real estate portals were used by home buyers to research floor plans and prices of apartments but now they are moving towards the next level with online bookings of apartments. The partnership with Puravankara will allow customers to view property on 99acres.com's 3D rendering platform to experience a virtual site visit and explore available units," Info Edge India Managing Director and CEO

Hitesh Oberoi said. Puravankara has listed its two projects - Purva 270 and Provident Rays of Dawn, two of Bengaluru's high-growth residential projects, for this offer. "For the first time, we have used virtual 3D view to help home buyers to explore, select and book homes online. Our strategy

has been to reduce the typical anxiety that a consumer goes through while buying a home. The simple and easy purchase process on our website is one of the key contributing factors to the success of our online bookings," Puravankara Projects Joint Managing Director Ashish Puravankara said. -PTI

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Endowment for Health grants focus on children CONCORD, N.H: New Hampshire's Endowment of Health has awarded another round of grants aimed at raising awareness of early childhood issues. The endowment recently awarded $158,000 to the Children's Behavioral Health Collaborative and New Futures. The money will be used to help monitor progress and create momentum for a statewide plan to transform New Hampshire's fragmented support system for children with mental health and substance abuse problems. It also awarded just under $17,000 to New Hampshire Public Television to co-produce a documentary discussing the diverse needs of New Hampshire's young children and promising approaches to meeting them. The production will serve as a local companion piece to a national documentary called ``The Raising of America.'' Both will air in the spring.-AP

Â&#x201E; Plant extract can help smokers quit LONDON: A plant extract commonly used in Eastern Europe to help smokers kick the habit, appears to work much better than nicotine replacement patches and gums, scientists say. Cytisine is an alkaloid extract from the laburnum or golden rain tree (Laburnum anagyroides), which grows all over Europe. It works by blocking nicotine's access to the brain's pleasure receptors. Like nicotine, cytisine is toxic when ingested in large amounts but is safe at low doses. It is produced commercially mainly in Bulgaria and Poland, and has been used as a quitting aid in eastern European countries since the 1960s. Researchers in New Zealand have conducted a fresh trial of cytisine. They recruited 1,310 smokers who intended to quit and gave exactly half of them cytisine as a course of tablets, taken daily in diminishing doses for 25 days. The other half received standard nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) - either as patches, gums or lozenges - for two months, 'New Scientist' reported. The researchers noted the number of people who managed to abstain from smoking at one week, one month, two months and six months into the trial. -PTI

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Headache may be only symptom of brain tumor Details on Page 34

Festival celebrates street food from 25 Indian states NEW DELHI: Traditional delicacies ranging from Mysore dosa to litti chokha as well as specialties like 'garlic kheer' and 'tash ke kabab', typically found only in street corners across the country comprised a festival that celebrated street food. The National Street Food Festival organized by the National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI), which was inaugurated at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium recently as a grand affair by celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor, saw over 800 street vendors from 25 different states cooking over 500 recipes. Tahira a street vendor from Dharwad, Karnataka, who sold 'Aknee pulav' and 'dalacha' (a type of dal), 'jigri' (a vegetable cooked with brinjal, fenugreek and potatoes) says, "I learnt to make these dishes from my mother. At the festival I made this dish for around 50 people each day and students are my most loyal customers." Apart from the quintessential dosa, idli, upma and sambar, there are hawkers who are showcasing specialty dishes from the south

Indian states. The array of lip smacking nonvegetarian items from South, were giving competition to the 'Gilaouti kebabs', 'biryani, parantha' and 'Nahari kulchas' from Lucknow. A quite modern dish 'Chicken 65' a hybrid between Indian and Chinese styles and sold by sold

cial Gobhi' as his stall's specialty. The dish, a twisted version of Manchurian, makes use of cauliflower in making the fried Manchurian balls. The street vendor, says, "I normally used to cook in weddings and learnt this dish from seeing other cooks." An original dish, 'tash ke

by Akbar from Dharwad was seen as one of the most sought after dishes at the event. In yet another cross-breeding of cultures and geographical regions, Dileep, a hawker from Chandigrah offered 'Honey Spe-

kabab', Ganesh Prasad from Motihari, Bihar seemed to get a lot of takers. 'Tash' in the language spoken in Motihari, means a pan or 'tava' where the dish is cooked. Prasad says, "The fact that my

dish is becoming so famous among the people of Delhi is giving me immense happiness." The hawker says he had been dishing out the preparations for the past 30 years. Specialities such as 'Lal-peda' and 'Makdal' from Varanasi, 'Mishti-Doi' and 'Rasogulla' from Kolkata and 'Mysore Pak' from Mysore took care of the sweettoothed. A stall that seemed to attract customers was the 'lahsun ki kheer', a kind of dessert made by boiling and grinding garlic, sold by a street vendors from Lucknow. According to Ravi one of the visitors, "It is really tasty and I can't even detect the smell of garlic that this dish is made of." Another culinary wonder, the roller fruit ice-cream at Subhash Chand's stall attracted a lot of foodies. Chand says he has been preparing ice cream fashioned on a rolling cylinder for long at his Delhibased shop in Kishan Nagar. When asked, most street vendors say they picked up their culinary skills from their homes. Cont'd on Page 35

Share of cereals in food has declined NEW DELHI: Reflecting changes in the dietary habits, a government survey has found that the share of protein-rich cereals in food has declined but oil and fat intake has gone up in both urban and rural households. "Over the 18-year period from 1993-94 to 2011-12, the share of cereals in total calorie intake has declined by nearly 10 percentage points in the rural sector and nearly 7 percentage points in the urban," said National Sample Survey (NSS) on Nutritional Intake in India in 2011-12. It further said the share of oil and fats has risen by about three-and-a-half percentage points each in both cities and villages. The calorie consumption re-

gained the level of about 2,100 Kcal per person per day in rural areas and about 2,060 Kcal in cities in 2011-12. The survey said a rise in average calorie intake between 2004-

05 and 2011-12 is noted in rural areas of most of the major states. In villages, protein intake per person per day has definitely de-

clined since 1993-94. However, the decline at the all-India level shows signs of flattening out, being only 0.5 gm less in 2011-12 compared to 2004-05. The decline in rural protein intake since 1993-94 has been prominent in Rajasthan (a fall of 11gm), Haryana ( a b o u t 10gm), and P u n j a b (8gm). In cites, the decline in protein intake between 1993-94 and 2011-12 is less marked than in villages. In cities and villages, all the southern states except

Karnataka show a slight increase in protein intake per person during this period. According to the survey, a rising trend in per capita fat intake is visible not only at all-India level but in every major state. In villages, the rise in fat intake has been from 31.4gm per day in 1993-94 to 41.6gm in 201112 and in cities, from 42.0gm to 52.5gm - a rise of over 10gm in both areas. Across the country, all the major states show a rise in fat intake ranging from 5-6gm to 1718gm during this period. Over 18 years preceding 2011-12, the contribution of cereals to protein intake has fallen by about 7 percentage points in rural areas and nearly 6 percentage points in cities. -PTI

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Death penalty states unmoved by botched execution MCALESTER, OKLA: Oklahoma's last execution went so badly that the state tried to cancel it before it was over. With the inmate writhing while the lethal drugs seeped into his body, his executioners drew the viewing gallery curtains, concealing what the warden later described as ``a

Lockett: Death was called â&#x20AC;&#x153;a bloody messâ&#x20AC;?

bloody mess.'' The botched execution of Clayton Lockett in April and other troubling ones this year in Ohio and Arizona gave capital punishment opponents a flicker of hope that areas of the country that most enthusiastically support the death penalty might have a change of heart. They didn't. Although Gov. Mary Fallin suspended further executions so that Lockett's death and Oklahoma's methods could be reviewed, the state held what amounted to a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its overhauled

death chamber only months later and is scheduled to resume killing inmates in midJanuary. And rather than causing states to question whether capital punishment is just or worth the risk of subjecting someone to a potentially agonizing death, the prolonged executions and problems states have had securing lethal injection drugs have led them to explore new, old and more efficient ways of killing, including gassing inmates. ``I think we had a little flash of hope that it would help our cause, but all it did was generate a lot of conversation about it,'' said Lydia Polley, a longtime member of the Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty. ``It just led to people thinking of better ways to kill them.'' Lockett's execution did little or nothing to dampen support for the death penalty in deeply conservative Oklahoma, which has killed more inmates than any other state except Texas since the 1976 reinstatement of the death penalty. In October, officials gave media tours of the renovated execution unit at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary, which got a $104,000 overhaul after Lockett's death and now stands in sharp contrast to the rest of the shabby, 106-yearold facility. Not content with just the upgrades to the prison and lethal injection equipment, though, Oklahoma's Republican-led House conducted a study on the use of nitrogen gas to execute inmates and is expected to consider legislation early next year that would make Oklahoma the first state to adopt hypoxia by gas - the forced deprivation of oxygen - as a legal execution method. Other conservative states also are exploring alternatives to lethal injection because of the problems securing the drugs.

Computer matches primate brain in object recognition WASHINGTON: MIT scientists have found that some computer programs can identify objects in images just as well as the primate brain. For decades, neuroscientists have been trying to design computer networks that can mimic visual skills such as recognizing objects, which the human brain does very accurately and quickly. Until now, no computer model has been able to match the primate brain at visual object recognition during a brief glance. However, a new study from Massachusetts Institute of Technology neuroscientists has found that one of the latest generation of these so-called "deep neural networks" matches the primate brain. The study found that a neural network developed by researchers at New York University classified objects as well as the primate brain. Because these networks are based on neuroscientists' current understanding of how the brain performs object recognition, the success of the latest networks suggest that neuroscientists have a fairly accurate grasp of how object recognition works, said

James DiCarlo, a professor of neuroscience and head of MIT's Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences. "The fact that the models predict the neural responses and the distances of objects in neural population space shows that these models encapsulate our current best understanding as to what is going on in this previously mysterious portion of the brain," said DiCarlo, senior author of the study in the journal PLoS Computational Biology. This improved understanding of how the primate brain works could lead to better artificial intelligence and, someday, new ways to repair visual dysfunction, added Charles Cadieu, a postdoc at the McGovern Institute and the paper's lead author. For vision-based neural networks, scientists have been inspired by the hierarchical representation of visual information in the brain. As visual input flows from the retina into primary visual cortex and then inferotemporal (IT) cortex, it is processed at each level and becomes more specific until objects can be identified. -PTI

U.S. states have had to buy made-to-order execution drugs from compounding pharmacies in recent years because the pharmaceutical companies they used to buy their drugs from refuse to sell them for use in lethal injections. Tennessee passed a law this year to re-

``The average Oklahoman is saying he got exactly what he deserves,'' Shortey said. ``A lot of people think they should suffer even more than they do. They think the lethal injection is too easy for them.'' instate the electric chair if it can't get lethal injection drugs and Utah is considering bringing back the firing squad. Oklahoma has executed 194 inmates since achieving statehood in 1907, including one by hanging, 82 by electrocution and 111 by lethal injection, according to state prison records. But the use of the death penalty was common in the territory long before that. U.S. District Judge Isaac Parker, who

operated out of nearby Fort Smith, earned a reputation as the ``Hanging Judge'' of the old West and presided over certain crimes committed in Indian territory. ``To me it's a reflection of our frontier culture,'' said Oklahoma historian Bob Blackburn. ``Violence is a part of frontier culture, and vigilante justice has always been a strong element of our history.'' Ralph Shortey, a Republican state senator from Oklahoma City who is pushing for Oklahoma to adopt alternative execution methods to lethal injection, estimates that 90 percent of his constituents strongly support the death penalty, despite what happened to Lockett. ``The average Oklahoman is saying he got exactly what he deserves,'' Shortey said. ``A lot of people think they should suffer even more than they do. They think the lethal injection is too easy for them.'' Oklahoma prison officials say they've secured the drugs they need to execute the next four inmates - the first is scheduled for Jan. 15 - unless a federal appeals court stands in their way. The inmates are trying to stop their executions, arguing that the state would essentially be experimenting on them by injecting them with unproven and untested drugs and violating the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment. '-AP

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Headache may be only symptom of brain tumor WASHINGTON: Headache is sometimes the only symptom of brain tumors, a new study has found, suggesting CT scans and other neuroimaging tests for people with headache can prove helpful in diagnosing the deadly disease. Recent guidelines seeking to reduce the use of CT scans and other neuroimaging tests for patients with headaches run the risk of missing or delaying the diagnosis of brain tumors, researchers said. "Although the intentions are laudable, these guidelines are inconsistent with the

neurosurgeon's experience with patients with brain tumor," Dr Ammar H Hawasli and colleagues at Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, said. Reducing the use of neuroimaging for patients with headaches has been one focus of

recent initiatives seeking to limit the use of unnecessary and costly medical tests. The issue is an important one, as headaches are a common reason for physician visits. In most cases, migraine and other types of headache can be diagnosed in the doctor's office, without any special tests. Several groups have proposed guidelines to limit the neuroimaging for headache. However, from their experience in treating patients with brain tumors, Hawasli and coauthors raise concerns about this recommendation.

"Specifically, patients with brain tumors may present with isolated headaches in the absence of other neurological symptoms and signs," they said. They analyzed a series of 95 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of brain tumor at their depart-

ment. Nearly half of patients had a combination of symptoms, such as seizures, cognitive and speech dysfunction, or other neurological abnormalities. However, about one-fourth had isolated headaches, no symptoms, or nonspecific symptoms. In 11 patients, headache was the only symptom of brain tumor. Four of these patients had newonset headaches that would have qualified them for neuroimaging under recently proposed guidelines. The remaining seven patients had migraine or other types of headache for which imaging may not have been performed under the proposed "Choosing Wisely" guidelines. Depending on which set of recent recommendations had been followed, neuroimaging would have been delayed or never performed in three to seven per cent of patients with brain tumors, researchers said. That could have important implications for patient outcomes, as early diagnosis of brain tumors enables prompt treatment and a wider range of surgical options. "We support careful and sensible use of neuroimaging in which physicians exercise excellent clinical judgment to reduce waste in the medical system," researchers said. The research was published in the journal Neurosurgery. -PTI

Google Glass may help moms monitor newborns BOSTON: Researchers are testing whether Google Glass can help ease anxiety of parents temporarily separated from their newborns. A new study at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston will test whether the technology of Google Glass, a hands-free, wearable computer device, can help foster the precious bond between a mother and her child. Hundreds of babies are separated from their mothers after birth each year because one or both of them need immediate care, The Boston Globe reported. Stephanie Shine, a nurse at the hospital, wants those mothers to see their newborns through the eyes of their partners: They will wear Google Glass while visiting

the intensive care unit, and the images they see will stream live to a tablet computer in the mom's hands. "I want to take this super-high-

tech device and capture what could be thought of as one of the strongest and basic human connections there is," said Shine.

Researchers are seeking 250 mothers to place in one of three study groups: One group will use Google Glass, another will use iPads to video-chat, and the third, a control group, will not use technology. Shine believes the use of Glass and iPads could help reduce maternal stress. "For mothers who cannot touch and feel their babies right away, technology can help bridge the gap," said Dr Terrie Inder, chairwoman of newborn medicine at the Brigham. PTI

Scientists identify rare cancer's genetic pathway TORONTO: Researchers have identified the genetic pathway of a rare, highly fatal form of liver cancer that disproportionately affects people in Asian countries. Simon Fraser University molecular biology and biochemistry professor Jack Chen and three of his lab members collaborated with Chinese researchers to identify how mutations affect genes and signaling pathways that might drive the formation of tumors in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). The researchers' findings could potentially lead to earlier and more accurate diagnosis and increased survival rates for patients with the disease, also known as intrahepatic bile duct cancer. ICC accounts for approximately 10 per cent of primary liver malignancies worldwide, but its incidence and mortality rates have been increasing rapidly in recent years, researchers said. The prognosis for ICC patients is usually poor, as early tumors are undetectable during routine examinations because the bile ducts are deep inside the body, leading to diagnosis only after symptoms develop and the disease has advanced.

"Our research is by far the most comprehensive sequencing effort to identify mutations associated with ICC and will be an important resource for scientists working to improve understanding and therapy for the disease," said Chen. The study is also the first and

The researchers' findings could potentially lead to earlier and more accurate diagnosis and increased survival rates for patients with the disease only large-scale effort to target ICC patients in China and the largest of all such projects worldwide. It shows that Chinese ICC patients show substantial important differences in mutation profile when compared with patients from other countries, which could have important implications for Chinese Canadians with the disease. The study was published in the journal Nature Communications. -PTI

Ocean acidification may cause shrimp to taste bad LONDON: Researchers have found that as the oceans become more acidic, the taste of shrimp - a popular seafood item - may become less desirable to the human palate. Researchers from the UK, Swe-

The researchers also found that the fish raised in the more acidic/warmer water were 1.6 times as likely to die during the three week test den and Canada raised shrimp in higher than normal acidic water and then held taste tests with volunteers. Prior research has suggested that the oceans are growing more acidic as they absorb more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. That increase, the team suggests, along with an increase in temperatures is likely to cause stress to shrimp, which will affect

their taste. The researchers raised shrimp for three weeks in water with a pH level of 7.5 (the level predicted for the oceans by 2100) rather than the normal 8 - the water temperature was slightly higher than normal as well to reflect a gradual warming of the oceans by the end of this century. Other shrimp were raised under current normal conditions. All of the shrimp were cooked by professional chefs and fed to volunteer shrimp lovers who rated the shrimp on how well they tasted, 'phys.org' reported. The researchers found that the shrimp raised under normal current conditions were 3.4 times as likely to be deemed the tastiest among all the shrimp, while those raised in acidic/warm water were found to be 2.6 times as likely to be described as the worst tasting. The researchers also found that the fish raised in the more acidic/ warmer water were 1.6 times as likely to die during the three week test. The study was published in the Journal of Shellfish Research. -PTI

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Tobacco litter is challenge for a clean India: Experts THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even as the Clean India campaign is going on in the country, acclaimed environmental experts have called for no-holds-barred implementation of the ban on public smoking as a means to keep the cities, towns and villages clean and litterfree. They contend that callously discarded cigarette stubs found abundantly in public places in violation of the smoking ban poses a challenge to the dream of a clean India besides bringing the need for stricter implementation of laws to the fore. Prof M K Prasad, environmental expert and educationist, said, "while there are public discourses on the health impacts

of tobacco use, its effect on the environment have come up for scant discussion in Kerala and India." "Developed countries have woken up to this fact and have undertaken steps to

identify the enormity of the problem. According to one estimate, the overall littering rate for cigarette butts in America

Homoeopathy sector will support 'Healthy India' drive: Naik AHMEDABAD: Union Minister of State Shripad Naik has said Homoeopathy sector will contribute in fulfilling ambitious 'Healthy India' mission. "Homoeopathy sector will give its able support to fulfill Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mission of 'Clean India and Healthy India'. Today, 85 countries across the world provide homoeopathic treatment and India is leading them," said Naik, who holds independent charge of department of 'AYUSH' (Ayurveda,Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy). Delivering his valedictory address at the

19th edition of the 'All India Homoeopathic Conference' here, the minister said there are 191 Homoeopathic colleges in the country that are able to provide education to students across the world. "There are exemplary facilities in health sector in our country. The Union government is also committed to give modern healthcare facilities to those coming from the lower strata of society," Naik said. Gujarat Chief Minister Anandi Patel said, "Homoeopathic treatment is on par with Ayurvedic medicines."- PTI

Festival celebrates street food from 25 Indian states Cont'd from Page 32

So lesser known dishes such as 'khoye ki jalebi' from Madhya Pradesh and 'Paan Pitha' from Assam got featured in the eclectic mix of culinary showcase The former is a variant of jalebi, made from khoya or mawa, and resembles a gulab jamun in taste and texture," says hawker Raj Kamal Jain. Meanwhile, the 'Paan Pitha', a thin chapatti made form rice flour and served with coriander chutney has another version, one that is made in a kettle, namely the 'Ketli-Peetha'. These dishes, says foodies, are sometime also eaten with jaggery or gur. The festival traces its origin to the year 2010, when at the annual general meeting of NASVI, a proposition to highlight issues of street food vendors, was put forward. The organization asked the vendors who attended the AGM to make the food and organized an event at the Constitutional Club. "We noticed that people enjoyed the food, but just hesitated to eat the food on

streets. Another thing that we noticed was that this experiment could be developed into a business model to empower the street vendors not associated with a hotel or caterers," says Arbind Singh, National Coordinator, NASVI. Since then street food festival has been organized by NASVI since the last six years in cities like Delhi and Patna. Singh says vendors were made to undergo a five-day 'Skill Development Program' in hotel management institutes, across the country, in collaboration with the Tourism Ministry to professionalize the participating vendors. "Coming to this festival, these vendors realize that there is a big market for their kind of food. For instance, Teerath Singh, a food vendor from Ludhiana, who used to come here till last year, actually got the confidence to open his own restaurant, while selling pizzas and burgers," says Singh. The model has been implemented in Gwalior and abroad as well, according to Singh. The three day festival was themed on 'Food that empowers'-PTI

is 65 per cent," he said. "The non-biodegradable nature of cigarette butts, a hazardous solid waste, makes it a challenging area to address. The butts also contain dangerous chemicals such as cadmium, arsenic and lead. Stricter implementation of laws on public smoking will not only improve public health but also restrict the environmental damage caused from cigarette use," Prasad said. A paper published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health cites that an estimated 1.69 billion pounds of butts are littered worldwide a year. Harish Vasudevan, environmental law expert, said, "studies point out that tobacco refuse is a major source of litter on

the planet." "Filtered cigarettes offered as an alternative to reduce the amounts of nicotine and tar consumed are a mainstay with smokers now. Cigarette filters are made of cellulose acetate, a plastic slow to degrade," he said. "Presence of cigarette stubs in public places provides cues for smoking. This major environmental and public health issue can be effectively controlled by implementing laws that prohibit smoking in public places," he said. Indian Tobacco Control Law COTPA, 2003 vide Section 4 prohibits smoking in all public places including public offices, educational institutions, public conveyances, restaurants, hotels, health institutions and all workplaces. -PTI

Scientists study marijuana's impact on brain BLOOMINGTON, IND: Two Indiana University scientists are embarking on a study of marijuana users they hope sheds light on pot's little-understood impact on the brain. The study by IU clinical psychologist Brian O'Donnell and colleague Sharlene Newman is being funded by a $275,000 federal grant. Their research is taking place as marijuana is gaining increased acceptance in parts of the nation. Pot is now legalized

for adult use in Colorado, Washington state, Alaska and Oregon. O'Donnell tells The Courier-Journal marijuana is being decriminalized without knowledge of ``its long-term effects on brain structure or function.'' Study participants will undergo brain scans so the Bloomington-based researchers can zero in on changes in their brains. They'll be looking for evidence that could show how marijuana may change the brain's structure and functions.-AP

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uli is the most popular skiing destination of Uttarakhand state. Situated in Chamoli district of Garhwal region and covering elevation from 2,519mts to 3,050mts above sea level, it is blessed with invigorating views of the splendid mountain range of the Himalayas. Auli is often compared with best ski resorts of the world by the foreigners. It hosted the First SAF Winter Games in 2011. The slopes of Auli provide enough thrills to professional skiers and novices alike. The Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam (GMVN) conducts 7 and 14

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days skiing courses at Auli and special provisions for day tourists are also available. The conditions for skiing are perfect. A 500 m long ski-lift and an 800 m long chair-lift link the upper and lower slopes. GMVN takes care of this resort and they have imported snow beater to maintain slopes. Walking through the misty slope provides one with the imposing spectacles of some of the lofty mountain ranges like Nanda Devi, Mana Paravat and Kamat. The best time to visit Auli is throughout the year except monsoons. But if you want to enjoy the eternal bliss of snow then visit Auli from December end to March. For winters, tourists are advised to bring heavy woolens, caps, socks, gloves, mufflers, pullovers, trousers, wind proof jackets, sunglasses, snow boots, torch and a whistle for personal use. Auli Ropeway Auli boasts the Asia's highest and longest cable car covering a distance of 4km. This cable car wonder is named as Gondola. It also has a Chair Lift and a Ski-Lift. The ropeway connects Auli with Joshimath; the journey taking just 15-20 minutes. Auli ropeway has ten towers of self-supporting steel structures. The enchanting Himalayas are distinctly visible while traveling in Gondola. Auli also offers the luxury of an 800mts long chair lift linking the lower ski slopes with the upper region. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 42

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January 2, 2015

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'Visa on Arrival' boosts tourist influx in Goa PANAJI: 1091 visas were issued till December 25 this year within a week after the Visa on Arrival (VoA) facility started at the Goa airport at Dabolim, officials said here. Airport officials claim that on an average 100 VoA are being issued a day with effect from December 17, 2014. Goa airport had issued 375 VoA between December 4-16. Assistant Director and Chief Immigration Officer Aravind Kumar H Nair said the figure has tripled within a period of 10 days and is going to increase over the next couple of days. There is an increase in charter arrivals too, Nair said, adding that the surge will continue as tourism has entered the peak season with

Christmas and New Year festivities attracting tourists from round the globe. So far, VoA to Russian nationals top the charts.

2014 saw Heritage tag for two sites NEW DELHI: 'Rani-ki-Vav', an 11th century stepwell in Gujarat, and The Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area, a rich biodiversity in Himachal Pradesh, were approved as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO under the cultural and natural categories respectively in July.

which children and youth would explore the treasure hunt of the country. The government is also contemplating an idea to provide free entry for students, as part of its efforts to carry over the richness of Indian monuments among the next generation.

Rani-ki-Vav

Gujarat's stepwell is the 31st cultural site in India to be declared World Heritage Site and Great Himalayan National Park forms the seventh natural property in the country. In an effort to popularize monuments among students, the culture ministry is tying up with the HRD ministry to help youths explore the country's heritage sites. Besides, a special drive is also planned in this connection, in

"No country in the world has the number of monuments India has... We are planning to bring some monuments into the education curriculum and provide free ticketing for students. We are working on it," Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma told PTI. The ministry is also focusing on the aspects of cleanliness at the monument sites and safety of tourists thronging these sites. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 43

As per data furnished by Goa airport, VoA issued to foreign nationals is as follows: Russia (595), Ukraine (430), USA (25), Germany (15), UAE (7), Australia (4) Philip-

pines (4), Israel (3), Jordan (3), New Zealand (2), Brazil (1) Finland (1), Kenya (1) Norway (1) and Singapore (1). Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar said, "I have been reiterating this right from the beginning that the VoA facility at Goa airport will bring in international tourists in large numbers. The very fact that it has increased within a period of 10 days shows that within the next few weeks and months, this facility will further boost tourist arrivals from across the globe. We are also expecting a new list with inclusion of more countries for issue of VoA. Goa is keeping its fingers crossed as the new list could include UK and will help bring in more foreign tourists from that country to Goa," he said.

Marketing strategies on VoA across the globe via social media like Facebook, Twitter, advertisements and media publicity has been chalked out and Goa Tourism is confident that the state will top the charts as far as issue of VoA to foreign nationals is concerned, Parulekar added. The Tourism Department has also started taking an inventory of tourist arrivals by rail and road, and this will provide a more accurate figure on tourist arrivals in Goa. A senior Tourism Department official said they are in the process of involving the Indian Railways, Konkan Railways, road transport agencies and toll booths at state borders to furnish data of tourist arrivals based on bookings and vehicle entry into the state.-PTI

India Post

Auli

Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 40

This Chair Lift has remote-controlled hydraulic and pneumatic braking system, making it safe to travel. A storm warning device is also attached with it. The ropeway of Auli helps tourists to explore the region with unique and unsurpassed experience. Places to See Gurso Bugyal: 3km trek from Auli will lead you to the picturesque Gurso Bugyal. Views of the imposing Himalayas like Nanda Devi, Trishul and Dron Parvat are invigorating from Gurso Bugyal. Gurso Bugyal transforms to a green pastureland during spring

season and wears sheets of snow during the winters. Perched at an elevation of 3,056mts above sea level it has mixed forest of oak and

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Most popular ski resort conifer. Gurso Bugyal is only 1.5km from the last tower of Gondola ropeway. Chattrakund: It is a small lake holding crystal clear water. Chattrakund is situated just 1km ahead of Gurso Bugyal. Located amidst jungle this mysterious lake is blessed with fairy tale surroundings. Kwani Bugyal: It is a popular destination situated 12kms from Gurso Bugyal at an elevation of 3,380mts above sea level. The best time to visit Kwani Bugyal is June and September. Chenab Lake: One must pass through the last village of Joshimath, Dang Village to reach Chenab Lake. The place is still unknown and it is inaccessible by motorable roads. Therefore,

Chenab Lake does not see many tourists but the virginity of this place makes it an enchanting spot. Joshimath: Joshimath is one of the four 'maths' created by Adi

Shankaracharya. Joshimath is the home of Shri Badrinath during winters. It is situated at an elevation of 1,890mts above sea level. Do visit Kalpavriksha and Narsingh temple while a visit to Joshimath. It is situated 14kms from Joshimath. The best season to visit Auli is all through the year. Tourist attraction in Auli is Snow Skiing and is best during November to March. How to Reach By Air: Jolly Grant Airport is the nearest Airport to Auli situated at

a distance of 286kms. It is well connected to Delhi with daily flights. By Rail: The nearest railway station is Rishikesh. Rishikesh railway station is situated 264kms before Auli on NH58.

By Road: Auli is well connected by motorable roads with major destinations of Uttarakhand state. Buses to Haridwar, Rishikesh and Srinagar are available from ISBT Kashmiri Gate in Delhi.

January 2, 2015

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Govt to use 'Spiritual Tourism' Maharashtra to boost ecotourism in woodlands to attract visitors NEW DELHI: Blending spiritualism with tourism, the government is preparing a new program to attract tourists, taking a leaf out of Italy and Saudi Arabia which are flocked by huge number of pilgrims every year. Under the 'Spiritual Tourism' program, the government has

Tourist Helpline along with Special Welcome Cards for foreign tourists arriving at nine International Airports. Launching the slew of schemes for promoting tourism and cultural sites, he said 50 per cent of the monuments in the world are in India, which is also blessed with

drawn up plans to develop holy places and heritage monuments in different parts of the country to woo tourists. "If you look at spiritual tourism throughout the world, it is very big. There is a huge footfall in Rome at Italy and same is the case of Mecca Medina... In a similar fashion we should also explore our rich potential aspects comprising epics and spirituality," Tourism and Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma said here. He was launching E-Ticketing for Taj Mahal in Agra and Humayun's Tomb in New Delhi besides a 24x7 Incredible India

Buddhist centers, Ganges and Himalayas. "The Prime Minister has earmarked 500 crores for development of five tourist circuits such as Ganga, Krishna, Buddha, northeast and Kerala. This apart, seven pilgrimage destinations including Gaya, Amristar, Mathura and Velankanni would be developed," he added. About Rs 100 crore have been earmarked for Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spirituality Augmentation Drive, besides a scheme for Heritage City Development has also been started, he said. Speaking about the 'Tourist Vi-

sas on Arrival' initiative, Sharma said over 3000 visas were issued for tourists from the USA and 1500 tourists from Australia. "In the last 11 months, we have 7.1 per cent increase in number of tourists. There is also 12.1 per cent growth in foreign exchange. We have crossed 1.07 lakh crore as foreign exchange in the last 11 months," he noted. The Tourism and Culture Minister also launched Swachh Bharat Swacch Smarak E-Poster, a booklet on 'Badhte Kadam - Hunar Se Rozgar Tak', Swachh Bharat Swachh Pakwan (Hunar Zayka), Mega Project Destination Development of Gwalior, Braille Book on Delhi Monuments and Adarsh Smarak, which aims at developing 25 monuments with facilities such as wi-fi, disabled-friendly and interpretation centers. Recognizing that Archaeological Survey of India is always in some controversy, Sharma promised to change the face of the heritage custodian, which is responsible for maintenance of ancient monuments and archaeological sites numbering 3680 in the country. Elaborating on various proposals to boost tourism, he said the ministry is planning to offer endto-end tourist services for international tourists, including GPS enabled taxis and helicopter services. "The helpline launched today is available in two languages such as English and Hindi. It would be soon upgraded to 12 languages including Japanese and Chinese," he added.-PTI

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government has decided to boost eco-tourism in the buffer areas of woodlands to improve the deteriorating condition of forests as well as generate a source of income for the state exchequer, according to a CMO official. The state government hopes to generate an annual income of Rs 10000 crore by enhancing inflow of international tourists near Tadoba and Pench in the Vidarbha region. "We will develop the entire region around Tadoba and Pench into an eco-tourism zone so that we can attract international tourists there. It has been calculated that around eight million people visit India every year," Principal Secretary in the Chief Minister's Office Praveen Pardeshi told PTI. "If we could attract only ten per cent of tourists to the forests of Vidarbha, we would have about eight lakh people visiting us yearly. Say if they spend about 200 dollars a day for only around four days, the state would earn an annual income of Rs 10,000 crore," he said. The IAS officer said that until

government's the vision. "When the government says it is committed towards Maharashtra's development, it does not mean forests will be neglected. In fact, forests are being given utmost importance even in the vision of the new government. "Wildlife conservation, rehabilitation of villages from wildlife sanctuaries and ensuring that there is reduced man-animal conflict will be of prime importance," he said. "We see a lot of animals straying out of forests and attacking people who collect fuel wood. The target is to make all these families stop using wood as a fuel. "This will be done by providing them alternatives like cooking gas, biogas and solar energy so that they don't have to cut trees for their fuel wood requirement and therefore also not get into conflicts with wild animals," he said. He said that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is keen to ensure that special critical habitats like mangroves as well as wildlife corridors between Tadoba and Nagzira, besides Pench and

now, the government's focus was on core forest areas, but focus would now be shifted towards buffer zones. "By focusing on buffer zones, that is areas around the forests, and developing them into ecotourism zones, the entire livelihood of people living in jungles and around sanctuaries can be transformed. Then, instead of people thinking of cutting wood to earn a livelihood, they will look at tourists as a source of livelihood. That way they will themselves ensure that trees are protected," he said. Ruling out industrialization at the cost of forests, Pardeshi said that conserving forests is of utmost importance in new

Bor sanctuaries are protected, so that wildlife movement in these areas continues uninterrupted. Maharashtra state forest minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said that forest staff has long been neglected. "In order to make working in forests a lucrative job, the government would balance pay scales of officials and ensure periodical promotions and incentives," he said. "Forest guards have been saying that their pay scales are roughly 25 per cent below talathis, though they live and work in dense jungles. I have held a meeting in this regard and their proposal is under consideration," Mungantiwar said. -PTI

2014 saw Heritage tag for two sites Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 41

On the flip side, expressing its concern over losing hundreds of monuments to encroachers in the national capital, a parliamentary panel has raised apprehensions that areas adjoining Qutub Minar may also face the same fate. In its report tabled in Lok Sabha, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture observed that nobody knows the exact number of monuments under the DDA and State Archaeological Department and how many are unprotected as some are on private

own lands. "This gives a very bleak picture about the whole thing. The Committee would like to have monument-wise position in respect of their protection either with ASI, DDA or state govern-

Himalayan National Park

ments. "In this way, Delhi has already lost hundreds of old monuments to the encroachers and we are perhaps allowing same thing to happen in areas around Qutub Minar as well," the report had said. The government during the year also announced that it is implementing two schemes to grant scholarship and financial assistance to artistes in the field of performing arts and fellowships to outstanding persons in the field of culture for research oriented projects.-PTI

In Brief Ohio Supreme Court rebukes fake lawyer CINCINNATI: The Ohio Supreme Court has fined a woman and told her not to pretend again to be a lawyer. The court says it has assessed $15,000 in civil penalties against Mary E. Hernandez of Cincinnati. The court found she practiced law without authorization by distributing business cards claiming to be an attorney and by preparing documents for a man facing immigration issues in 2011. The court's ruling said Hernandez told the man she had key relationships with immigration and government officials that would help him. The court said that while federal law allows non-lawyers to represent people on immigration matters in some limited circumstances, she had falsely presented herself as a lawyer. Court records didn't list an attorney for Hernandez and indicated she didn't respond to the complaint against her.-AP

Â&#x201E; Saudi Arabia limits family visa to six months RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has decided to limit the family visitors visa span to six months, affecting 2.8 million Indian workers living in the Kingdom. The period would start once a visitor arrives in the country and registers on the passport department's computerized system, said Lt Col Ahmed bin Fahad Al-Luhaidan. Al-Laheedan said the visa will not extended beyond 180 days. He made the statement in response to queries made by several people with regard to the validity and extension of visit visas. He said that the Passport Department recently launched a family visa extension service where citizens or residents can extend the visa electronically, Saudi Gazatte reported. Earlier this year, Interior Minister Prince Mohammed bin Naif allowed expatriate workers to renew the visit visas of their family until the end of 2014. Family visit visas, which are typically used by accompanying family members of foreign workers, do not grant the right to work or reside in Saudi Arabia. The decision to limit the family's visitors visa to six months would affect the 2.8 million Indian expatriate population residing in the Kingdom. Of the around 500,000 domestic workers, mostly working as maids, helpers, drivers and cleaners, around 10 per cent are women.-PTI

Immigration

INA offers no clue on what 'visa availability' means-II

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Details on page 45

State court approves LA policy for impounding cars LOS ANGELES: A state court has determined that a Los Angeles Police Department policy that makes it easier for unlicensed drivers to keep their cars instead of having them impounded after police stops is lawful and can remain in place. The policy has been supported by the city attorney and immigrant rights groups, who said the old impound policy was unfair to immigrants who cannot obtain a driver's license. The 13-page ruling by California's 2nd District Court of Appeal found that the policy is ``within the wide discretion of the police chief'' and that challengers of the policy - a taxpayer and the police union - lacked the legal standing, or ability to demonstrate sufficient connection to or harm from the law, in this case because the policy isn't wasteful or illegal. ``Here, Special Order 7 implements state law; it does not create a new law. Use of police resources to enforce the Vehicle Code does not constitute waste,'' the ruling states. Los Angeles Police Department Chief Charlie Beck issued the directive, which went into effect in 2012, allowing some unlicensed drivers who are stopped to produce a vehicle's registration and proof of insurance to avoid hav-

ing their cars impounded for 30 days. Depending on their record, a licensed driver can then pick up their vehicle. After Special Order 7 was implemented, the number of vehicles impounded in Los Ange-

we serve believe the actions of our officers are fair, consistent and constitutional in each neighborhood of the city,'' the department said. Attorney Richard Levine, who represented the Los Angeles Po-

lice Protective League in the case, said the union was disappointed by the ruling reversing the trial court's finding. Levine said the union would be evaluating various legal options in the next weeks after attorneys and the board fully examined the ruling. Options include filing a petition for

poundment regulations. A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge sided with the union and struck down the policy in August 2013, agreeing that it violated the state's vehicle code. Still, for most of the time since its inception, Special Order 7 has essentially remained in place. Aside from a couple of months after the lower court ruling, the policy was allowed to continue while the state appeals court examined the case's merits. In the meantime, legislators of the nation's most populous state passed a law allowing immigrants living in the country illegally to apply for licenses starting Jan. 2, in a bid to make roads safer and ease fears for more than a million people to get behind the wheel. A large number of those immigrants live in Los Angeles. And it is unclear how the law might affect the LAPD policy, for example, in cases where a person fails their driver's license exams but fulfills Special Order 7 requirements to avoid having their car impounded. Still, the ACLU Foundation of Southern California, which went to court in support of the city's policy, praised the ruling. ``What Special Order 7 does is simply direct officers on how to

review with the California Supreme Court or seeking a rehearing in the Court of Appeal, he said. The Los Angeles Police Protective League, which represents more than 9,900 sworn Los Angeles police officers, sued in 2012, arguing the policy subjected officers to ``professional and legal conflict, as well as civil liabilities'' when enforcing uniform im-

apply the vehicle impound laws without creating unfair hardship on poor immigrant residents who were too often disproportionately affected by harsh 30-day impounds, or creating the perception of profiling of Latinos in an effort to impound vehicles,'' ACLU of Southern California Executive Director Hector Villagra said in a statement.-AP

Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck speaks to reporters in 2012 after the L.A. Police Commission approved a vehicle impound policy that restricts when officers can seize the cars of unlicensed drivers. A state appeals court panel has overturned a ban on the controversial policy.

les decreased from 28,796 in 2011 to 16,242 in 2012, court documents state. The Los Angeles Police Department said that the department was pleased by the court's decision allowing it to provide direction to its officers on the issue. ``Maintaining the public's trust is improved when the communities

Student convicted of cyber stalking deported SEATTLE: U.S. officials have deported a former University of Washington student from India who was convicted of cyber stalking for making threats on social media. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said that 24-year-old Keshav Bhide left the country on a flight out of Seattle. Bhide was accused of posting online threats to kill women at the University of Washington in solidarity with Elliot Rodger, who went on a murderous rampage in California in May. Threats using the

name ``Foss Dark'' were linked to Bhide. He was charged in both state and federal court. Bhide was convicted on Dec. 11 in King County Superior Court and sentenced to a six-month suspended sentence. In a deal with federal prosecutors, the federal indictment for making interstate threats will be dismissed after he leaves the U.S. An immigration judge ordered him removed from the country. He cannot return to the US for 10 years.-AP

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January 2, 2015

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INA offers no clue on what 'visa availability' means-II GARY ENDELMAN & CYRUS D. MEHTA

Continued from last week

nder 8 C.F.R. § 245.1(g)(1), why must visa availability be based solely on whether one has a priority date on the waiting list which is earlier shown in the Visa Bulletin? Why can't "immediately available" be re-defined based on a qualifying or provisional date? We are all so accustomed to paying obeisance to the holy grail of "priority date" that we understandably overlook the fact that this all-important gatekeeper is nowhere defined. Given the collapse of the priority date system, an organizing principle that was never designed to accommodate the level of demand that we have now and will likely continue to experience, all of us must get used to thinking of

would be consistent with INA §245(a)(3). We propose the following amendments to 8 C.F.R. § 245.1(g) (1), shown here in bold that would expand the definition of visa availability: "An alien is ineligible for the benefits of section 245 of the Act unless an immigrant visa is immediately available to him or her at the time the application is filed. If the applicant is a preference alien, the current Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs Visa Bulletin will be consulted to determine whether an immigrant visa is immediately available. An immigrant visa is considered available for accepting and processing the application Form I-485 [if] the preference category applicant has a priority date on the waiting list which is earlier than the

We are all so accustomed to paying obeisance to the holy grail of "priority date" that we understandably overlook the fact that this all-important gatekeeper is nowhere defined. it more as a journey than a concrete point in time. The adjustment application would only be approved when the provisional date becomes current, but the new definition of immediately available visa can encompass a continuum: a provisional date that leads to a final date, which is only when the foreign national can be granted lawful permanent resident status but the provisional date will still allow a filing as both provisional and final dates will fall under the new regulatory definition of immediately available. During this period, the I-485 application is properly filed under INA §245(a) (3) through the new definition of immediately available through the qualifying or provisional date. We acknowledge that certain categories like the India EB-3 may have no visa availability whatsoever. Still, the State Department can reserve one visa in the India EB-3 like the proverbial Thanksgiving turkey, as we have proposed in a prior blog (http://blog.cyrusmehta.com/2014/ 08/do-we-really-have-to-wait-forgodot.html). Just like one turkey every Thanksgiving is pardoned by the President and not consumed, similarly one visa can also be left intact rather than consumed by the alien beneficiary. So long as there is one visa kept available, our proposal to allow for an I-485 filing through a provisional filing date

date shown in the Bulletin (or the Bulletin shows that numbers for visa applicants in his or her category are current) ("current priority date"). An immigrant visa is also considered available for provisional submission of the application Form I-485 based on a provisional priority date without reference to current priority date. No provisional submission can be undertaken absent prior approval of the visa petition and only if visas in the preference category have not been exhausted in the fiscal year. Final adjudication only occurs when there is a current priority date. “An immigrant visa is also considered immediately available if the applicant establishes eligibility for the benefits of Public Law 101-238. Information concerning the immediate availability of an immigrant visa may be obtained at any Service office." Allowing early adjustment of status with companion work authorization, travel permission, and AC 21-like adjustment portability will make possible the green card on a provisional basis in all but name. However, this is not all. The most important benefit may be the freezing of children's ages under the formula created by the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA). If the White House will only grant EAD and Parole to I140 beneficiaries, but stop short of allowing adjustment, then, on a

massive scale, their children will turn 21, thereby aging out, long before the magic time for I-485 submission ever arrives. This is because Section 3 of the CSPA only speaks of freezing the child's age when the petition has been approved and the visa number has become available. Also, the child must seek to acquire lawful permanent resident status within one year following petition approval and visa availability. Since Matter of O.Vazuez, absent extraordinary circumstances, only the filing of the I-485 can do that. Under the current definition of visa availability, joined at the hip to the Visa Bulletin, they have no hope. Only through a modified definition coupled with the notion of provisional adjustment can they retain the CSPA age. This is why invocation of early adjustments themselves, not merely EAD and Parole, to beneficiaries of I-140 petitions is so manifestly necessary. However, precisely as in the INA, the CSPA contains no definition of visa availability. A change in the applicable regulatory meaning along the lines we suggest will apply to CSPA and prevent the children of I-140 beneficiaries from aging out. Granting the EAD and advance parole will sadly have no such effect. Only early adjustment can do that. This is especially relevant now since the Supreme Court in Scialabba v. Cuellar De Osorio (http://blog.cyrusmehta.com/ 2014/06/scialabba-v-cuellar-deosorio-does-dark.html) substantially narrowed the utility of priority date retention. The redefinition of visa availability that we propose not only provides the legal underpinning

Only through a modified definition coupled with the notion of provisional adjustment can they retain the CSPA age for early adjustment of status but also allows the children of I-140 petition beneficiaries to derive a priceless immigration benefit through this family relationship that would otherwise be lost. Given the importance of preserving the age of a child under the CSPA, why only restrict early I-485 filings to beneficiaries of I140 petitions? Our proposed redefinition of visa availability ought to also apply uniformly to beneficiaries of

family based I-130 petitions too. It is entirely possible that the White House may realize all of this and more. We would be most happy to be rendered redundant. The best advice is that which is entirely unnecessary. Yet, unless

and until we see it in writing, perhaps the time for celebration should be postponed. * Cyrus D Mehta, may be contacted at 212-425-0555 or info@cyrusmehta.com

Georgia Tech, Norcoss team up for immigrant study ATLANTA: A team of researchers from Georgia Tech plans a wide-ranging study of immigrants in one metro Atlanta community. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the Norcross City Council has approved the arrangement with Georgia Tech's School of City and Regional Planning. The study will focus on civic engagement, economic develop-

ment and small business growth among the area's Latino and Asian communities. Researchers plans to issue a report that includes recommendations for continued integration of immigrants within the city. The school plans to spend $10,000 on the effort. It has requested $15,000 from the city and other local sources.-AP

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Immigrants get warning on driver's licenses LOS ANGELES: While tens of thousands of immigrants living in the United States illegally are preparing to apply for a long-sought driver's license in California starting Jan. 2, others are being urged to think twice. Immigrant advocates say the vast majority should be able to get licenses without trouble, but they want anyone who previously obtained a driver's license under a false name or someone else's Social Security number to speak first with a lawyer, fearing a new application could trigger a fraud investigation. The same applies to immigrants with a prior deportation order or criminal record because federal immigration officials and law enforcement can access Department of Motor Vehicles data during an investigation. The advice isn't meant to

frighten immigrants from seeking licenses that are meant to make

their lives easier - especially because many already risk getting

California Highway Patrol officers Armando Garcia, right, and Ray Patton explain to immigrants the process of getting a drivers license during an information session at the Mexican Consulate, in San Diego. California is gearing up to start issuing driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s licenses to immigrants in the country illegally in a bid to make the roads safer that could also give more than a million people access to state-issued identification.

ticketed simply by driving to work or taking their children to school. ``For the vast majority of people, getting a license is a good decision,'' said Alison Kamhi, staff attorney at the Immigrant Legal Resource Center. ``At the same time, I think it is important people are aware there is some risk.'' The nation's most populous state is preparing to start issuing driver's licenses to immigrants in the country illegally in a bid to make the roads safer and ease fears for more than a million people. California's program eclipses the scope and scale of those approved in nine other states, including Nevada, Colorado and Illinois. California expects 1.4 million people to apply for the licenses which include a distinct marking from those issued to U.S. citizens and residents - over the next three years. The number of people making license appointments more than doubled to 379,000 during the first two weeks immigrants were allowed to sign up. Immigrant advocates said they don't foresee major problems with the rollout of the program because the state has had more than a year to prepare and an ample budget $141 million spanning three years. In Nevada, about 90 percent of immigrants failed the required written test during the first few weeks a driver authorization card was offered this year because they

were not prepared. In Colorado, the state had no startup funding to issue licenses this year and couldn't keep pace with demand, leading to months long waits. Jonathan Blazer, advocacy and policy counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, said he expects California to license as many immigrants in the country illegally as the nine other states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico combined. ``If California is not able to do this right with the resources it put into this, other states will take notice,'' Blazer said. Critics have voiced security concerns and questioned the ability of state officials to verify immigrants' identities. Like other applicants, immigrants will need to prove their identity and residency in the state. Those who don't have a passport or consular identification card on a pre-approved list can submit other documents for review by a DMV investigator to see if they qualify. Mexican consulates and advocacy groups have been hosting driver's license preparation classes for months. Demand has been high. ``The sooner the better, because it will be safer to drive,'' said Abel Rivera, a 37-year-old from Mexico. He also hopes to qualify for better insurance coverage.-AP

ICCC seeks permanent residency for foreign students TORONTO: Canada needs structural reforms in its immigration policies to attract foreign students and must consider granting them permanent residency rights, a top official of the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce has said. "The existing Canadian immigration policies are not facilitating participation of foreign graduates

in its labor force, discouraging meaningful immigration and denying them permanent residency status on technical grounds," President of Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC), D P Jain here said. Jain is leading a 50-member Indo-Canadian trade delegation to participate in the upcoming Pravasi Bharatiya Divas and Vibrant Gujarat Summit being held in Gandhinagar from January 7

next year, to coincide with the 100th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's return to India from South Africa. "Most of the foreign students come to Canada not only to study with few rights but to immigrate with their families as soon as possible, and therefore they should be given permanent residency rights on completion of their studies. "The existing immigration policy is vague as it does not say clearly that foreign graduates with limited rights will have to leave the country after they exhaust their work visa period and not able to find a job in their field," he said. Among the members of the delegation are Canadian Immigration Minister Chris Alexander, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Deepak Obhrai, Senator Asha Seth, and former president of the ICCC Naval Bajaj. -AP

Datebook

January 2, 2015

NEW JERSEY Upcoming Sun, Jan 18 • NJTS Pongal Celebrations Venue: EWest Windsor High School South, 346 Clarksville Rd, West Windsor Township, NJ 08550 Time: 2:00 pm

Sat, Jan 24

• Republic Day Celebration 2015 - Fundraiser for Project Udaan Venue: Hotel Westin, Newport (Grand Ballroom), 479 Washington Blvd, Jersey City, NJ 07310 Time: 5:00 pm

NEW YORK Upcoming Fri, Jan 9 • Ladies Meditation Group 50+ Venue: Home, 24 Berry Hill Road, Syosset, NY 11791 Time: 08:00 pm

Sat, Jan 10 • Nrityagram: Masters of Dance Venue: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028 Time : 5:00 pm Contact: 212-570-3949

Sat, Jan 10

Sat, Jan 31

• Masters of Indian Dance: Nrityagram

Venue: North Brunswick High School, 98 Raider Road, North Brunswick, NJ 08902 Time : 12:00 pm Contact: 732-801-4814

Venue: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028 Time : 08:00 pm Contact: 212-570-3949

• INDIA Republic Day

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CHICAGO

Upcoming

Sat, Jan 10 • Screening Movie Chittagong

Sat, Jan 17 • Sankranti & India Republic Day Celebrations

Venue: Chinmaya Rameshwaram, 14451 Franklin Ave, Tustin, CA 92780 Timet: 7:00 pm Contact: 714-469-6268

Sat, Jan 24 • NetIP LA-OC 4th Annual Kites Festival Venue: Claremont Sand, 54th Pl, Long Beach, CA 90803 Timet: 11:00 am Contact: 714-925-3237

Sat, Jan 31 • Akshaya Patra Reception for President Vicente Fox and Dr. Deepak Chopra Venue: The Renaissance Hotel Long Beach by Marriott, 111 E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802 Timet: 06:30 pm Contact: 424-765-0907

Sat, Jan 31 • The Biggest International Bollywood New Years Eve Ball Rhythm Venue: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, 39900 Balentine Dr, Fremont-Newark, CA 94560 Time: 07:00 pm Contact: 510-432-6385

Sat, Feb 7 • Roshni - Cricket 2015 Venue: Rancho Santa Susana Community Park, 5005 C E Los Angeles Ave, Simi Valley, CA 93063 Time :07:00 pm Contact: 310-920-1863

Venue: HTGC Rama Temple, 10915 Lemont Rd, Lemont, IL 60439 Time: 3:30 pm.

Fri, Mar 13 • Zakir Hussain Celtic Connection Venue: Pabst Theater, 144 E Wells St, Milwaukee, WI 53202 Time: 8:00 pm Contact: 414-467-3032

ATLANTA Upcoming Sat, Jan 31 • Maa Tujhe Salaam Venue: Shree Shakti Mandir's Sumant Center, 1450 Huie Rd, Morrow, GA 30260 Time: 6:00 pm Contact: 678-789-4690

Sat, Feb 14 • Cupid Calling ! Valentines Day Party 2015 Venue: Ashiana banquet hall, 5675 Jimmy Carter Blvd, Norcross, GA 30071 Time: 9:00 pm Contact: 404-246-3256

Mon, Aug 31 • MITHAS 2014 Membership Venue: Wong Auditorium, MIT, 70 Memorial Dr, Cambridge, MA 02142 Time: 07:00 pm Contact: 857-205-9731

ILLINOIS Upcoming • J K Yog Satsang and Bal Mukund Hindi Classes are held every 2nd and 4rth Sunday of Month Chicago Satsang Information: J K Yog, Chicago - Swami Mukundananda Venue: Clarion Inn/Waterford Banquets, Board Room, 933 South Riverside Drive, Elmhurst, IL 60126 Time: 3:30pm-5:30pm Contact: Ajay & Arti Chandhok @ 630-561-4807 Website: www.jkyog.org

1st and 3rd Sunday of Month • Chicago Children's Bal Mukund Character Building Program and Hindi Literacy Classes Venue: Vogelei Center, 650 W. Higgins Road, Hoffmann Estates, IL 60192 (Next to Nissan Dealership) Contact: Ajay & Arti Chandhok @ 630-561-4807

Mondays and Fridays • Free ESL - English as Second Language Classes Metropolitan Asian Family Services Venue: 9015 N Milwaukee Ave, Niles, IL, Time: 10:30am to 12:30pm Contact: 773-465-3105

Mondays and Fridays • Free ESL - English as Second Language Classes Where: Metropolitan Asian Family Services Venue: 9015 N Milwaukee Ave, Niles, IL, Time: 10:30am to 12:30pm Contact: 773-465-3105Time: 5:30 pm

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Horoscope

January 2, 2015

India Post

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What the stars foretell for Year 2015 BY PANDIT PARASHAR (March 21 to April 20)

aturn will stay in evil house that is eighth and will try his best to create problems and obstacles here and there in 2015. Now Jupiter's aspect on this Saturn will stay under complete control till July 15th and up to a great extent there after. Obstacles that created complete road blocks in 2014 leading to even depression will completely go away and you will start to move ahead and up in your life once again and especially in first seven months of 2015. Accomplishments will be greater than expectations and completely satisfying. There is a strong chance that either you will do some serious upgrades to your existing home or buy a beautiful home by July 15, 2015. Jupiter's transit in fifth will be very fortunate and will provide you the much needed Midas touch. Right mahurat for those looking for an expansion in the family. This transit will be very favorable for students as it will help them get very high grades. Other wise also Jupiter's aspect on ninth will help you to get all things big or small without any difficulty. Mind will be very relaxed as all tension about children will disappear as they will achieve their goals and get settled in their own way in life. Ketu in twelfth will bend your mind ad faith in religion and make you perform many good deeds and on the other hand Rahu in sixth will help people appearing for any competitive exam, clear it with hands down.

(June 21 to July 22)

he year should start with good note as Jupiter and planet Mars will be in very helpful positions. You will continue to make very positive changes in diet and try to live a very disciplined life in order to come back in tip top shape. Results will astonish people around. Saturn's disturbances will stay under check till July 15th but once Jupiter moves into house of finances, one of your child may move away for educational purpose and you may have to share lots of financial liability because of some glitch in financial aid. This is not going to cause any dents in your finances, just additional expense. There will be positive changes in your personality and Jupiter will make you wise and far sighted. You may launch a project in March with the help of some like minded friend. Mind will deviate from religion to spiritually and Rahu will give you courage to make some extra ordinary move in career to get out of stale life. You will also loose some weight in first seven months. Time after July is very favorable for money matters. Your investments will start yielding profit and by the end of 2015, you will accumulate lots of money. Any new project you start this year, will last long and will be profitable. You may also buy a house by water.

(April 21 to May 20)

upiter's transit in third till July 15th will keep expenses to bare minimum and will give you the chance to accumulate lots of money which will come handy in second half. Investment made in middle of year will be lucky though you will need to spend lots of time initially. Now Saturn's transit in seventh will make you feel lucky as far as the career is concerned. All you attempts will be successful and you will always meet your goals and deadlines. Since Saturn will transit seventh house and the zodiac sign Scorpio which is the sign of his bitter enemy Mars, you will have to be very careful in personal life, relationships because this Saturn will definitely have some negative impact on seventh house. It can cause temporary or permanent damage to relationships or will give health problems to spouse in shape or aches, pains, minor accidents or spouse may have to undergo some kind of surgery, so watch out. And since Saturn would transit it's own constellation Anuradha and later Jyestha, it will take you to new level in career and bring big financial prosperity in life. Children will also do better in their respective life. Some of you also invest in property or buy gas business this year.

(July 23 to August 22)

ou will have to go through many test and trials in first half of 2015 but once Jupiter enters first house, everything will come under controls. Saturn's transit in fourth is not favorable and you will need to be more careful with many things including close friends, automobiles and any old property. Commitments and some bad choices made in the past will make a hole in your pocket and the money will hardly stay. Avoid buying any old property or vehicle this year or they will drain you out. People in business should avoid buying a run down business just because they want to avoid competition. Once Jupiter moves in first, it will give you the wisdom and maturity that sometimes the things do not work the way we want. If you are looking for an addition in the family, the second half if when the dream can come true. Children not doing well in the past will make a come back this year. Watch out for a above average tall and dark skin color person, he will be the root cause of troubles.You will be paying little extra attention to your health in second half and may make big change in diet. People working may be moved to another location or department against their will. People in consulting business will do slightly better this year. It will be better to seek advise from an old and trusted person from time to time

(May 21 to June 20)

upiter will continue to occupy house of finances till July 15th before moving to house of courage and communications. Saturn the ruler of house of luck will continue an evil sixth house for the whole 2015. It should be another fruitful year by all means. Saturn in sixth will help you overcome all difficulties of past and help you do a lot better in your career. It will also bring many positive change in career by moving to a well reputed establishment. You may also pass a big exam before July 15th. You will be completely free of any previous ailment. This Saturn in sixth will also help you gain victory in ongoing legal matters. Some of you also launch another project with some products with an edge over similar products in the market. Business will continue to do good but the prosperity will be slow and steady. Jupiter in second will be expensive but the money will only go on good reasons. Mostly on immediate family members. You may be spending more money on kids education or on the marriage of one of your child this year. You will have to have better control over your emotions and let the past go if you want to move forward in life. There will be big fluctuations in finances, sometimes you will have in excess and sometimes on the edge. All you need to do is be careful when dealing with people with their name starting with letter " N ".

(August 23 to September 22)

aturn's transit in third and Jupiter in house of gains are very favorable. You will make tremendous progress in life this year. Rahu in first will bring some changes in personality. You will become tough and execute all your plans successfully. New opportunities will keep knocking at your door one after another this year. Some of you may accept a great opportunity and even move to another state by July. Saturn's transit in third will also help you in litigation and a long pending appeal will get accepted making room for big progress in life. Bachelors will be hooked up with the right partner. All business trips will be instant success. You may also attend a big seminar in the month of April or May and make some very useful contacts. Expenses will stay under control and before the year end, you will accumulate lots of money. Jupiter's aspect on fifth as well as the ruler of fifth Saturn, can add another member in the family, other wise too children will do a lot better this year. People prone to blood pressure should be again careful. You may also travel overseas towards the end of 2015. Some one older and with gray hair will be very helpful. Just be careful when handling any tools or lifting weight as there is a slight chance of getting hurt in the arm this year.

PANDIT PARASHAR, CEO & COO Astro Scan USA is also available for individual consultations. He can be reached at: parashar@parashar.com

CONTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;D NEXT WEEK

510-886-4370 www.parashar.com

50 India Post

January 2, 2015

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Dan Brown

NEW DELHI: The literary scene in 2014 was vibrant going by what Indians read and wrote and there were controversies as well as the pulping of two books following objection by some quarters raising serious questions on freedom of expression of writers. Several authors like the celebrated Dan Brown, US-based Jhumpa Lahiri and Pakistani writers Reza Aslan and Moni Mohsin visited during the year which also saw the release of a number of books that sought to target the highest echelons of power - Sanjaya Baru's "The Accidental Prime Minister", P C Parakh's "Crusader or Conspirator? Coalgate and other Truths" and Natwar Singh's "Yours Sincerely". Besides numerous autobiographies

Jhumpa Lahiri

and biographies including ones by Sachin Tendulkar and Naseeruddin Shah, the year saw publishers coming out with books on business, commercial and mass market fiction, literary fiction, self help, chik-lit and culinary. There were a number of works by new and little-known authors. In February, Penguin Books India was forced to recall and destroy all copies of US Indologist Wendy Doniger's "The Hindus: An Alternative History" after an organization called Shiksha Bachao Andolan Committee claimed that the book, which focuses on different aspects of Hinduism, has lot of "inaccuracies and biases" and was full of various sexual connotations and should be withdrawn.

Though the publishers said it had an obligation to respect laws even if they were "intolerant and restrictive" and a moral responsibility to protect its "employees against threats and harassment", Doniger was quite vocal in her reaction. "I was, of course, angry and disappointed to see this happen, and I am deeply troubled by what it foretells for free speech in India in the present, and steadily worsening, political climate," was her response. She said the publishers were defeated by the "true villain of this piece - the Indian law that makes it a criminal rather than civil offence to publish a book that offends any Hindu, a law that jeopardizes the physical

Reza Aslan

safety of any publisher, no matter how ludicrous the accusation brought against a book". This development came a month after Bloomsbury had to withdraw all copies of "The Descent of Air India" by former executive director of the airline Jitendra Bhargava in which he blames ex-Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel for the near grounding of the national carrier. A book on Abu Salem was also in the news with the mobster moving a court seeking withdrawal of "My name is Abu Salem" by S Hussain Zaidi that documents his flamboyant life. Cont'd on Page 52

India Post 51

January 2, 2015 www.indiapost.com

A touching narrative of Naxalite days GOPI RAI

'The Lives of Others' by Neel Mukherjee is a beautifully written fiction about a Bengali family living in Calcutta through the Communist unrest of Naxalbari. The book captures the day-to-day life of this large joint family including one of its sons who has left home to become a Naxalite. The dexterity of the author lies in the narrative of the mundane and the interplay of the various characters. The story line of the

began in 1967, has fallen into grave decline. Prafullanath's eldest son, Adinath runs the family business. His authority suffers a setback when his son Supratik runs away from home to join the nascent communist revolt. The narrative has three interwoven strands. The first one traces the rise and decline of the family fortune. The second chronicles the sundry domestic

Lives of Others - Book by Neel Mukherjee

book is about India's history of corruption, at the chasm separating its poor from its privileged and the savage violence that has marked the attempts at systemic change. The main actors of the novel are members of the sprawling Ghosh family, who live together in an estate in the Calcutta suburbs. The family patriarch, Prafullanath, had founded a paper company that, when the story

crises: the melodrama of arranged marriages, the dispensation of gifts during Durga Puja (a Bengali festival) and the petty infighting among siblings and their spouses for greater clout in the household and eventually a larger cut of the inheritance. Finally, there is Supratik's story. Armed with Mao's 'Little Red Book', he lives with the rural peasantry which is kept in a state of "constant wrestling with

dearth, want and hunger" by extortionist landlords and corrupt lawmakers. Supratik teaches the peasants the methods of guerrilla warfare and the narrative suddenly shifts to the campaign of murders he helps to incite. 'The Lives of Others' is a novel with both sweep and focus. All aspects of human life have been depicted here: poverty, hunger, lust, fear, love, hope, despair, torture, imprisonment and freedom. The book gives a fascinating insight into the gulf between the I n d i a n wealthy and bourgeois family on the one hand and the hopelessly poor left to die on the streets of Calcutta in 1970s. It is about a tale that has to be told and is told with consummate skill. N e e l Mukherjee was born in Calcutta. His first novel, 'A Life Apart' won the Writers' Guild of Great Britain Award for best fiction, among other honors. 'The Lives of Others' is his second novel and was shortlisted for 2014 Man Booker Prize. Mukherjee has reviewed fiction for The Times and Time Magazine Asia. He has also written for several newspapers including The New York Times and Sunday Telegraph. He lives in London.

Indian cuisine incomplete without street food NEW DELHI: No story on Indian cuisine can be complete without the inclusion of street food, says celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor. "Indian cuisine has three important parts - home food, restaurant food and street food. Indian street food reflects the country's ethos

and also mirrors the ever changing needs of the Indian consumer, be it the man on the streets or the one living in an ivory tower," says Kapoor. The chef is the celebrity face at the sixth edition of a four-day National Street Food Festival organized by NASVI (National Association of Street Vendors of India) that was held here at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium complex. "As a child, eating street food was something you indulged in without adult supervision. During those glorious ten minutes of a school recess, I indulged in the usual chats, sherbets and ice golas. I try to make them at home and try out a classic street food as well!" says the chef. The chef, who hosts his own television show, says he is very excited to take a look at the innovative dishes which will be an in-

tegral part of the festival this year. Delicacies such as Ragra Pattis from Mumbai, fish curry and sandesh from West Bengal, nonalcoholic Konkani drinks from Goa, Litti Chowkha and Tash Kebab from Bihar and other innovative dishes are slated to be on the menu at the street food fest. "Street food festivals are always a good idea because it is the best way of promoting this cuisine. This will create awareness and will expose people to street food from across the country," says Kapoor. Shedding light on the importance of health and hygiene associated with street food, the celebrity chef is of the opinion that street food is healthy and hygienic since it is always served hot. "There is a lot of debate on the safety of Indian street food. There are many who believe that street

food of India is many times safer than those served at restaurants! "It is shocking but this statement is supported by the fact that street food is cooked for the day and served hot on the spot," says Kapoor. -PTI

52 India Post

January 2, 2015 www.indiapost.com

Action-packed year for books Controversies galore too Cont'd from Page 50

Literary festivals A number of literary festivals were held during the year, prominent among them were the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF), Mumbai International Literary festival, Bangalore Literature Festival, Kochi International Book festival and Kolkata Literary festival. Apart for the controversies, the year was mostly good for publish-

P C Parakh

ers. V K Karthika, chief editor and publisher of HarperCollins India, told PTI, "2014 was an exciting year when we launched our children's imprint Harper Kids, we focused on publishing very different categories including politics, cinema and our spirituality imprint - Harper Element. Several books won awards across genres including fiction, non-fiction and poetry." Adds managing editor Shantanu Ray Chaudhuri, "2014 was very good. We had a bestseller - 'Dark Star', a book on Rajesh Khanna by Gautam Chintamani which sold over 5,000 copies in two months. Joy Goswami was selected as the Poet Laureate of India by Tata Lit for Life. We published his collection of poetry this year." According to Rajdeep Mukherjee, Senior Vice president at Pan Macmillan India, 2014 gave the publishing house a "success a month with books such as 'Cell' by Robin Cook,' The Finisher? by David Baldacci and 'Fangirl' (YA category) by Rainbow Rowell going into quick reprints in the month of the publication". Jeffrey Archer's "Be Careful What You Wish For" saw Pan crossing previous sales records in the year of its publication for the other Archer titles in "The Clifton Chronicle" series. "While Para-Olympian Oscar Pistorius' story 'Behind the Door'

was one of the most controversial and topical books to be brought out, some of the titles to rise up quickly on the bestseller's lists were Oprah Winfrey's 'What I Know For Sure', Ken Follet's Edge of Eternity' and Aroon Raman's 'Treasure of Kafur',"Mukherjee says. "Zia Haider Rahman's first book 'In the Light of What We Know' received a brilliant sales and media response for any first time writer and the year is ending on a high note with Aatish Taseer's biggest release in 'The Way Things Were'," he says. Hachette India says the year was spectacular but one that nevertheless reminded it that silver linings notwithstanding the dark cloud that shrouds the trade publishing environment has not quite gone away. "I mention this despite having our most successful year ever. Because it is key to recognize that trade publishing and bookselling have undergone a huge change in the past few years and that churn is still underway," Hachette India MD Thomas Abraham told PTI. "The bulk of our sales this year was concentrated in the last four

months, thanks to an unusual build up of blockbusters. A huge chunk of the year's success is of course attributable to the blockbuster of the year - Sachin Tendulkar's autobiography 'Playing It My Way' which smashed all adult hardback records with sales topping 220,000 copies in less than

a month. We also had 'I am Malala' which after the Nobel logged up an exciting 70,000 copies. "The new John Grisham 'Gray M o u n t a i n ' expectedly moved over 50,000 copies.'Silkworm', the new instalment from Robert Galbraith (JK Rowling) sold over 25,000 copies. Donna Tartt's much acclaimed 'Goldfinch', Sue Monk Kidd's 'The Invention of Wings' and David Mitchell's 'Bone Clocks' headed up our literary lists," he says. According to Abraham, there were some disappointments too. "New children's series 'Deep Blue' sold below expectations, as did one of the funniest risque books written in 'India Gone with the Vindaloo'. Indian crime fiction seems unable to break out despite there being some great books like 'Lethal Spice'," he says. For Westland Ltd., 2014 was a "good if not exceptional year". Says Westland CEO Gautam Padmanabhan, "We had our fair share of bestsellers including Rashmi Bansal's 'Take Me Home', Rujuta Diwekar's 'Don't Lose Out Work', Devdutt Pattanaik's '7 Secrets of The Goddess', Christopher C Doyle's 'The Mahabharat Quest: The Alexander Secret', Ashwin Sanghi's first non-fiction '13 Secrets of Bloody Good Luck', and Preeti Shenoy's 'It Happens for a Reason'. "Anees Salim's 'The Blind Lady's Descendants' and Baradwaj Rangan's 'Dispatches From The Wall Corner' were the highlights of our literary imprint Tranquebar. It was also a year of evolving a new strategy for the rapidly changing market, the results of which we hope will bear fruit in 2015." Relatively small publishing houses did reasonably good business says Bhaskar Roy, CEO of Palimpsest Publishing House based in New Delhi, "We began the year with a bang. Dr Karan Singh's 'Meetings with Remarkable Women', launched on February 1, dominated the publishing scene all through the year. Noted Malayalam writer Sethu's shortstory collection, 'A Guest for

Arundhathi', too has been well received by the market." For Niyogi Books, 2014 was a mix of success and failure.

Natwar Singh

"Success in that we have been awarded for our several titles and there was an improvement in sales figures (approx. 15%) but the collection and readership were negative, adding to it, certain government institutions preferring regional language publishers," says Bikash D Niyogi, its publisher and MD. The DSC prize for South Asian literature went to Cyrus Mistry for his book "Chronicles of a Corpse Bearer". Pankaj Mishra was among eight writers from seven countries who won Yale University's prestigious USD 1,50,000 Windham Campbell Literature prize in recognition of their literary achievements. India-born British author Neel Mukherjee, who was short listed for the 2014 Booker Prize for novel "The Lives of Others" lost to Aus-

tralian novelist Richard Flanagan. Mukherjee's novel has also been short listed for the Costa Book Awards in the UK to be announced in January. Historian Ramachandra Guha's "Gandhi Before India" figured among 100 Notable Books of 2014 selected by the editors of The New York Times Book Review so were works of five Indian-American writers - Vikram Chandra, columnist Anand Giridharadas, journalist Anand Gopal, Delhi-born Akhil Sharma and surgeon Atul Gawande. The year began with the seventh edition of JLF which witnessed a record footfall, with close to 2.2 lakh book lovers thronging the historic Diggi palace. The five-day festival played

host to two Nobel laureates Amartya Sen and Harold Varmus, four of 2013's listed Man Booker authors Jim Crace, Jhumpa Lahiri, Tash Aw and Alison MacLeod besides several well-known literary faces like Jonathan Franzen, Gloria Steinem, S R Faruqi, Ved Mehta, Reza Aslan and Samantha Shannon. But unlike the past couple of years, this edition was bereft of any major controversy though on the penultimate day, activists of Jaipur-based Sri Rajput Karni Sena protested against the presence of filmmaker Ekta Kapoor, objecting to the title of her TV serial "Jodha Akbar", which they claimed presented their culture in bad light. They were, however, pushed outside the venue.-PTI

Philosophy

January 2, 2015

India Post 53

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ind is the creator of everything. You should therefore guide it to create only good. If you cling to a certain thought with dynamic will power, it finally assumes a tangible outward form. When you are able to employ your will always for constructive purposes, you become the controller of your destiny. There are three important ways to make your will dynamic: (1) choose a simple task or an accomplishment that you have never mastered and determine to succeed with it; (2) be sure you have chosen something constructive and feasible, then refuse to consider failure; (3) concentrate on a single purpose, using all abilities and opportunities to forward it. But you should always be sure, within the calm region of your inner self, that what you want is right for you to have, and in accord with God's purposes. You can then use all the force of your will to accomplish your object; keeping your mind, however, centered on the thought of God the source of all power and all accomplishment. The human brain is a storehouse of life energy. This energy is constantly employed in muscular movements; in the working of the heart, lungs, and diaphragm; in cellular metabolism and

KAHLIL GIBRAN

ne of the judges of the city stood forth and said, "Speak to us of Crime and Punishment." And he answered saying: It is when your spirit goes wandering upon the wind, that you, alone and unguarded, commit a wrong unto others and therefore unto yourself. And for that wrong committed must you knock and wait a while unheeded at the gate of the blessed. Like the ocean is your god-self; It remains for ever undefiled. And like the ether it lifts but the winged. Even like the sun is your god-self; it knows not the ways of the mole nor seeks it the holes of the serpent. But your god-self does not dwell alone in your being. Much in you is still man, and much in you is not yet man, but a shapeless pigmy that walks asleep in the mist searching for its own awakening. And of the man in you would I now speak. For it is he and not your god-self nor the pigmy in the mist, that knows crime and the punishment of crime. Oftentimes have I heard you speak of one who commits a wrong as though he were not one of you, but a stranger unto you and an intruder upon your world. But I say that even as the holy and the righteous cannot rise beyond the high-

chemicalization of blood; and in carrying on the work of the telephonic sensory motor system (the nerves), Besides this, a tremendous amount of life energy is required in all processes of thought, emotion and will. Overcome fear by faith Fear exhausts life energy; it is one of the greatest enemies of dynamic will power. Fear causes the life force that ordinarily flows steadily through the nerves to be squeezed out, and the nerves them-

Paramhansa Yogananda

every obstacle will then be overcome by courage and faith. A "wish" is desire without energy. After a wish may come "intention" - the plan to do a thing, to fulfill a wish or desire. But "will" means: "I act until I get my wish." When you exercise your will power you release the power of life energy - not when you merely wish passively to be able to obtain an objective. New efforts after failure bring true growth Even failures should act as stimu-

your head erect. Always try once more, no matter how many times you have failed. Fight when you think that you can fight no longer, or when you think that you have already done your best, or until your efforts are crowned with success. A little story will make this point clear. A and B were fighting. After long time A said to himself: "I cannot go on any longer." But B thought: "Just one more punch," and he gave it, and down went A. You must be like that; give a last punch. Use the unconquerable

Do not dwell in the past,

Keep consciousness on God & you will have no fears

do not dream of the fu-

Fear causes the brain to send an inhibiting message to all bodily organs. It constricts the heart, checks the digestive functions, and causes many other physical disturbances

- Buddha

ture, concentrate the mind on the present moment.

Life is a series of natural and

spontaneous

changes. Don't resist

selves to become as though paralyzed. Fear doesn't help you to get away from the object of fear; it only weakens your will power. Fear causes the brain to send an inhibiting message to all bodily organs. It constricts the heart, checks the digestive functions, and causes many other physical disturbances. When the consciousness is kept on God, you will have no fears;

lants to your will power and to your material and spiritual growth. When you have failed in any project it is helpful to analyze every factor in the situation in order to eliminate all chances in the future that you might repeat the same errors. The season of failure is the best time for sowing the seeds of success. The bludgeon of circumstances may bruise you, but keep

power of will to overcome all difficulties in life. New efforts after failure bring true growth. But they must be well planned and charged with increasing intensity of attention and with dynamic will power. Excerpted from 'The Law of Success'. The 121st birth anniversary of Paramhansa Yogananda will be celebrated on January 5

them - that only creates

est which is in each one of you; so the wicked and the weak cannot fall lower than the lowest which is in you also. And as a single leaf turns not yellow but with the silent knowledge of the whole tree, so the wrong-doer cannot do wrong without the hidden will of you all. Like a procession you walk together towards your god-self. You are the way and the wayfarers. And

righteous is not innocent of the deeds of the wicked; and the whitehanded is not clean in the doings of the felon. Yea, the guilty is oftentimes the victim of the injured, and still more often the condemned is the burden-bearer for the guiltless and unblamed. You cannot separate the just from the unjust and the good from the wicked; for they stand together before the face of

look unto the spirit of the offended. And if any of you would punish in the name of righteousness and lay the axe unto the evil tree, let him see to its roots. And verily he will find the roots of the good and the bad, the fruitful and the fruitless, all entwined together in the silent heart of the earth. And you judges who would be just. What judgment pronounce you

the result of our dominant

You can't separate the good from the wicked Even as the holy and the righteous cannot rise beyond the highest which is in each one of you; so the wicked and the weak cannot fall lower than the lowest which is in you also. when one of you falls down he falls for those behind him, a caution against the stumbling stone. Ay, and he falls for those ahead of him, who though faster and surer of foot, yet removed not the stumbling stone. And this also, though the word lie heavy upon your hearts: The murdered is not unaccountable for his own murder, and the robbed is not blameless in being robbed. The

the sun even as the black thread and the white are woven together. And when the black thread breaks, the weaver shall look into the whole cloth, and he shall examine the loom also. If any of you would bring judgment the unfaithful wife; let him also weigh the heart of her husband in scales, and measure his soul with measurements. And let him who would lash the offender

sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like. - Lao Tzu Our life always expresses thoughts. - Soren Kierkegaard You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life. -Albert Camus A man who dares to waste one hour of time has not discovered the value of life. -Charles Darwin

Kahlil Gibran

upon him who though honest in the flesh yet is a thief in spirit? What penalty lay you upon him who slays in the flesh yet is himself slain in the spirit? And how shall you punish those whose remorse is already greater than their misdeeds? Excerpted from the Chapter 'Crime & Punishment' in The Prophet. The 131st birth anniversary of Kahlil Gibran will be observed on January 6.

Beware the barrenness of a busy life. -Socrates Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated. -Confucius

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January 2, 2015

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A fractured mandate: The big picture in J&K

India Post

D SUBA CHANDRAN

ost of the immediate reaction to the just con cluded J&K Assembly election has been on its nature and the outcome. True, the verdict is fractured. But what caused it? Is the divided mandate a manifestation of a deeper issue that we have to focus more, than on who will form the government and who support it? What is the Big Picture that is evolving and what it means for the future stability of the State and its people? Do the recent elections and its fractured mandate reflect a clear regional divide and a communal fault line in J&K? If the answer is an unfortunate yes, than the first big challenge for any party that forms the government is to ad-

cause, and looking at only managing its manifestation will only produce political instability and future hung assemblies. When did a party command a simple majority in J&K? Why has the State produced a series of hung assemblies in the last three elections? The answers remain elsewhere; the hung assembly is only a manifestation of a deeper problem, and just should not be seen as a Saffron Wave, or Modi sweep, or PDP resurgence. Second major issue facing the new government in J&K and relatively another new one in New Delhi, is to break the political cycle between the State and Union governments. The issue is not whether the government in J&K is a coalition partner of the gov-

dress this divide. Why has the BJP that has swept the rest of Jammu region failed in Poonch and Rajouri? Why has PDP that has been the most successful in Valley, failed to repeat its performance outside it, except for few constituencies across the Pir Panjal? And why has Ladakh neither preferred the BJP nor the PDP? This divide on regional and communal basis, perhaps is the biggest threat to the future of J&K. The civil societies within J&K will have to ponder the larger implications of the election results, than narrowly focusing on whether PDP will align with BJP, or form the government with support from Congress and NC. The primary issue facing the political parties in J&K is not their ideology, or whether it helps or prevent from forming the next government. The big picture is how to address the looming threat, which has ended up in producing a hung verdict. Non-addressal of the real

ernment in New Delhi; it is rather, how the two governments work in tandem in breaking the cycle of non-movement on crucial issues. Successful elections in J&K, formation of government, promise of movement between New Delhi and J&K, some movements and slogans on cross-LoC CBMs, stalemate, slow performance (if not nonperformance) of the government within J&K, disappointment, and

of India will have to come together and discuss how to break the set pattern. Unfortunately, not only the political parties, even the civil societies on both sides of the Lakhanpur border post have invented myths that suit their narrative and do not understand the other. Rest of India blissfully thinks that a successful election in J&K means the rejection of separatism and terrorism. Peace is measured in terms of absence of violence and the number of people killed or not killed in a day. On the other hand, J&K, especially the Valley is angry about anything and everything and points finger at New Delhi on every ills, with less or no introspection. Both the societies have created an artificial screen with inward looking script, reinforced by their own media perpetuating the monologue about each other. For the agencies and political parties, such a difference and screen fits their primary narrative and prevents them from breaking the cycle. Else, there will be more Standing Committees, Working Groups and Interlocutors, running in a cyclical path. Perhaps, this is where the media, think tanks, research institutes and Universities could come in, and even join hands in preparing a framework, that would break the above cycle. Unfortunately, the above institutions - be it in J&K or in New Delhi, have been critiquing whatever is happening, without succeeding in providing an alternative. And the civil societies within J&K and across Lakhanpur post get carried away by daily developments and miss the big picture. Let us sincerely hope, researchers and columnists do not have to write a similar commen-

The issue is not whether the government in J&K is a coalition partner of the government in New Delhi; it is rather, how the two governments work in tandem in breaking the cycle of non-movement on crucial issues the breakdown - has been the general pattern in the last fifteen years. How to break the above cycle, and pursue a straight path? If the civil societies within J&K have to come together to address the imbalance question within J&K, the civil societies in J&K and the rest

tary next December on our ability to break the cycle. There have been multiple false starts. Hope the New Year and new governments in J&K and New Delhi achieve a sustainable breakthrough. The writer is Director, IPCS

Year of Modi

electing Man of the Year has been no problem in 2014. Narendra Modi wins hands down. Ever since he won the Lok Sabha elections in a spectacular fashion, he has been dominating the news. He may not have been as effective in implementing his domestic economic agenda but in foreign policy he was found to be at great ease in dealing with the high and mighty international leaders. From President Obama of the US, to leaders of Australia, China, Russia, United Kingdom and South Asian leaders of Sri Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar and Bhutan, he has charmed them all. The icing on the cake has been the invitation to President Obama to be the Chief Guest at India's Republic Day celebrations on January 26 which the US statesman has gladly accepted. Another major success of his has been winning the hearts of the Diaspora who are now willing to invest in their motherland not only with their money but also have found a stake in the all-round development of their country of origin. On the domestic front he has been winning election after election for his party - Maharashtra, Haryana and now Jharkhand and a robust showing in Jammu & Kashmir. Elections in Delhi in February 2015 are also likely to go the Modi way. Unlike the previous Manmohan Singh government of UPA, Modi's PMO is the last word on policy matters. Modi drove the agenda as the government launched a number of initiatives including the Swachh Bharat campaign, Jandhan scheme, Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana for adoption of villages by MPs and 'Make-in-India' campaign. Some other initiatives included steps to simplify rules by doing away with 'archaic' laws and bringing in self- certification of documents instead of attestation. Laying thrust on attracting maximum foreign investment, steps were taken to liberalize the FDI policy, including in critical sectors like defense and insurance. Mopdi's domestic agenda has been shackled by the resistance from the Congress-led opposition parties in Rajya Sabha which at present hold a majority and thus are able to block major moves by the NDA government. Many important legislations on issues like hiking FDI limit in capital-starved insurance sector, auctioning of coal blocks and enabling land acquisition for infrastructure and housing projects were obstructed by the opposition. It is being argued that if the Opposition demand for the Prime Minister to make a statement on the issue of "Ghar Vapasi" conversions to Hinduism being done by some rightist groups was acceded, the opposition might have helped the government to pass the relevant legislations. It is quite possible that in a vitiated atmosphere the opposition would have taken up some other issue to raise the heckles of the government and block the legislations. In such circumstances, the Government was compelled to come out with Ordinances so that the reform momentum did not slacken. Since State elections keep popping up year after year, Modi is not likely to get respite from being in electioneering mode. This means he won't chastise the fringe elements of the rightist groups who keep stoking one controversy after another which could torpedo Modi's economic plans. They have been trying to shift the focus on extraneous issues like conversions and Godse. Why doesn't Modi rein in these so called Hindu nationalists? The answer lies in the fact that he needs them for election purposes which are always approaching in some state or the other. If he annoys them, where does he get the cadres to campaign during elections? So here is the dilemma why Modi appears double-faced. If the year 2014 has been a honeymoon period for Modi, the New Year of 2015 will test him sorely. It has been pointed out that US President Reagan also faced problems from fringe elements of the Republican Party. He was able to neutralize them by total focus on the economy. Perhaps Modi will take a leaf out of the book of Ronald Reagan.

January 2, 2015

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